INNISFAIL – The Birds of Innisfail are in fine form to start the 2019-20 season after winning their second consecutive game.
The local Eagles won their home opener at the Innisfail Arena on Saturday, Nov. 30 with a convincing 8-5 victory over the Stony Plain Eagles.
“It was a good team effort,” said Brian Sutter, head coach. “It was a similar type of game as the one up there (in Stony Plain). The last game was 4-1 and calls went against us and they scored two late power-play goals, to make it look close on the scoresheet and that was (like) tonight.”
Sutter said it was a character win for the team despite a number of penalties, and was pleased with the Eagles all-round efforts.
“Cade Spencer was awesome in goal,” said Sutter. “Everybody has to be a part of winning a game like that and we were.”
Spencer filled in for goaltender Allen York and made 25 saves for the win. Innisfail's and Stony Plain’s netminders faced 30 shots each.
Stony Plain opened the scoring with a power-play goal just over five minutes into the first frame, but Innisfail forward Nick Noseworthy answered back, tying the game at one just past the halfway mark of the period.
One Innisfail line in particular stole the show Saturday night. Linemates Quintin Lisoway, Matt Houston and Eagles veteran Riley Simpson scored seven of the Birds' eight goals in their home opener.
“It was a great feeling. We were short on bodies but the guys all worked together and we got the win,” said Simpson.
The second frame saw Lisoway net a hat trick that included a short-handed marker and a power-play goal, giving his team a 5-3 lead after 40 minutes.
“I got to relay it back to my linemates. They did a great job getting pucks to me,” said Lisoway. “I capitalized on the chances that I got.
“Today we created a lot and we generated a lot of chances. We got scored on a couple of times but that’s going to happen when you have a short bench,” he added.
“It’s great getting the win for the hometown fans.”
Simpson scored Innisfail’s sixth goal early in the final frame but Stony Plain fought back, scoring two more goals late in the period, including a power-play marker to close the gap to 6-5.
Innisfail’s dominance continued as Lisoway netted his fourth goal and Simpson scored his third on the power play with just a minute remaining in the game, giving his team the 8-5 victory.
Spencer made some outstanding and timely saves in the dying minutes of the game.
“Giving them power-play chances, they could work the puck around very well in our own end and they buried on the chances they did have,” said Spencer, noting his team’s resilience. “I like how everybody didn’t quit here.
“Everybody seemed pretty confident that we were coming out with a win tonight,” Spencer concluded.
The Innisfail Eagles are in Stony Plain for their next game and return home for Dec. 21. Puck drop is 8:15 p.m.
