It’s an exciting time for hockey fans in Central Alberta.
With recent national and international events here, including the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championships slated for 2020-21, it’s the place to be for top level hockey.
One other national event that is making its return to Central Alberta this spring is the one for the storied Allan Cup.
For the past several years the Innisfail Eagles have been this town's senior AAA men’s hockey team. The Birds have been one of five, and now four, teams to compete in the Allan Cup Hockey West League.
Alberta has won the Allan Cup just seven times in the cup’s history. Most recently, the Stony Plain Eagles won the cup in 1999 and the Bentley Generals (now the Lacombe Generals) have won it three times in the past decade (2009, 2013 and 2016).
This season is proving to be an exciting and hopeful one for Innisfail hockey fans.
There is a lot of excitement with the Allan Cup being hosted in Lacombe in April and there are many reasons to believe that an Allan Cup championship for Innisfail is indeed possible.
This is by far the best Eagles team we’ve seen assembled since head coach Brian Sutter took over the reins in the 2012-13 season.
This year’s squad has a solid mix of veteran experience in the Vandermeer brothers, Pete and team captain Joe, along with veterans Tyler Beechy, Ty Clay and Dan Nicholls, to name a few.
Newcomers who are making an impact this year include several players that came over when the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs folded last fall. This includes brothers Taylor and Blair Mulder, Dallas Desjarlais, Brett O’Malley and Shawn Bates, who returned this year after playing a few games with the Eagles in 2013-14. On the blueline, Alex Curran, Mackenze Stewart and Colton Hayes are strong defenders stepping up for the Birds this season.
Shawn Bates is currently leading the league with 24 points, while Joe Vandermeer isn’t far behind with 18. Teammates Clay, Beechy and Desjarlais are also in the top 20 of league leading players. Goalie Allen York has been hot between the pipes with the best save percentage in the league.
This Innisfail Eagles team not only brings experience and plenty of skill, but also speed. Since early December, they’ve been the best team in the Allan Cup Hockey West League.
More than one player this season has commented on the strong team dynamic and the belief that they have what it takes to win the Allan Cup.
And with the direction these Birds are flying, many are eager to say there’s no stopping them now.
