I would like to start this weeks article by apologizing to everyone who reads my weekly updates on the Eagles. I missed the report on the season’s final game and there is no excuse to do that to you the loyal reader.
I report every week through the hockey season on my team so that everyone in the community can stay informed good or bad at how the Eagles are performing. I do this on my own time and have never tried to pass myself off as a professional. In the last couple weeks I have felt that my credibility was comprised at the editing stage.
I would like to clear a few things up for everyone here today. The Innisfail Eagles are a AA calibre hockey team playing in a AAA league. We are the EAGLES, a team with 63 years of history in this town. And the last major thing I would like everyone to know is that my headlines are not always very brilliant so this paper usually chooses one for me. The last headline that was posted was not mine. We did not lose in OT as the headline read, we lost with 58 seconds left in the game.
Now on to some real news...
The Eagles will not be having any games in the near future as we have no one to play in our league leading up to provincials. We are however trying to get some exhibition games lined up as teams from other leagues exit their own playoff runs.
With the Eagles not having any home games to generate the cash needed to travel to provincials in Provost they have been forced to come up with some new fundraising ideas and events to pass the time. The Eagles are still trying to sell the last of their raffle tickets. The draw printed on the tickets was for February 5 but with the team not having a game I was not comfortable drawing the winners at home so instead they will be drawn after the Alumni game on February 18. There is also some talk about having a pub night at the Fox and Hound but nothing has been confirmed yet. As we get the details finalized they will be advertised.
The Waugh/Allan Eagles Alumni game is coming up quick. As I understand they have 40 former players registered to play in the event. The organizers are working madly to get everything in place to put on this amazing event. Fourlane Ford has stepped up big and have offered up a chance to shoot and win a vehicle from Fourlane Ford. Tickets for this chance have will be given out with every paid admission to the game. Also scheduled will be a minor hockey skills competition featuring some kids of varying ages to start the event followed by the alumni game. The hope is that we can fill the arena to the 900 seat capacity to support this family in their time of need. Please come out on Feb. 18 and show your support.
In Chinook League news, The Sylvan Admirals and the Stony Plain Eagles were shut out of the league playoffs. The Bentley Generals took down the Admirals and the Fort Sask. Chiefs snuffed the Eagles. Both the first and second round of playoffs are 3 game series. The second round will be for the League Championship with the Generals facing off against the Chiefs. This series should be a good preview of what is to come in the Provincial AAA finals in March.
