The Innisfail Eagles' upcoming hockey season is just around the corner, and both the coach and team manager say it is going to be a “go big or go home” season.
“We're going for the cup,” said Eagles coach Brian Sutter.
“Our goal is to win the league. It's that simple.”
The Eagles made headlines when they won the provincial senior hockey tournament on home ice last spring at the Innisfail Twin Arena.
However, the team's success came as an AA level team. This year they plan to take the AAA glory.
Sutter, who has coached the Eagles through just one season, said he considers the team more unique than other squads, as many of the players do not reside in Innisfail and work out of town.
“We're a little bit unusual,” Sutter said. “The majority of the team are from Central Alberta but a lot of them work in Calgary and other places.”
He added that around half a dozen players won't be able to make pre-season training camps due to out-of-town jobs or commitments.
Because many of the players reside in places other than Innisfail, Sutter said the team would take as many players as it can get.
“We're constantly trying to upgrade. We want between 40 and 50 players,” Sutter said.
“Obviously to get to the top it's a lot of work. We can't do it with just two or three people. We need the whole team.”
When Sutter was asked what the goal for this season was, his answer was short and simple.
He said it was to win the Allan Cup, the prestigious trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men's ice hockey champions of Canada. It is only awarded to teams in the AAA league.
And when it comes to ambitions for the team, Jason Lentz, general manager for the Eagles, has the same goal in mind.
“We are representing Innisfail and what better way to do that than to win the oldest hockey trophy in Canada,” said Lentz.
He explained that the main reason why the Eagles didn't go for AAA last year was because neither he nor Sutter was present on the team for AAA registration, and the deadline was missed.
This year however, they snagged a spot and are ready to compete.
“We represent Innisfail no matter where we go, and we try to remember that,” said Lentz.
“It is about establishing a sense of pride and having a team the town can be proud of,” he added.
Brody Malek plays defence for the Eagles. He said it's time the team takes home the big win.
“We got the AA title last year, and with us being a full-blown AAA team this year, we hope to be the top team,” Malek said, adding he had confidence the team has the right coach to take them there.
“Our coach expects only the best from us and we know these expectations. He knows what he is doing.”
This will be Malek's second year playing for the Innisfail Eagles.
“I believe we are going to have a few new faces in the dressing room which is not a bad thing,” Malek said.
“But it's a challenge to have people come and go. Yet with that said, the new people in the dressing room with you belong there too, and that's just something you have to deal with as a hockey player. We're a team, and we have the same goal.”
Pre-season training camps for the Innisfail Eagles will begin this month, with games starting in early October.
