This weekend saw the Eagles head up to Lloydminster for a couple of matinee games against the host Lloydminster Border Kings. This is the only overnight road trip for the boys and is generally used as a good trip to do some team building for the boys.
The bus was loaded and on the road early Saturday morning for the 3:30 puck drop. It became evident during the warm-up that the boys had a long bus ride up, but they were able to work the bus legs off for the start of the game.
The Eagles were able to control the play early on in the first, and were able to strike within the first seven minutes into the game, on the power play. Jeff Clazie was able to stuff one past the Kings’ tender with assists going to linemates Ryan Kallis and Sean Neumeier. Unfortunately, their lead wouldn’t last long — the Border Kings were able to tie it up a minute later.
The Kings finished the first period sneaking two more pucks past the Eagles’ netminder Wade Waters, leading the game 3-1. Waters faced 12 shots in the first frame, with the Eagles firing nine on the Kings’ tender.
Early in the second, it was clear the boys would be faced with adversity when a bad call put assistant captain Daryl Blais out of the game for a very questionable checking from behind call. The Eagles’ penalty killers would go to work, though, and kill off four consecutive penalties. The Kings stole the momentum, sneaking three more pucks past Waters in a span of a minute and a half.
Twenty seconds later Neumeier was able to capitalize on a bounce and dish the puck into the empty net with assists going to Clazie and Joel Everitt. This goal was big as it helped the Eagles gain some momentum back. Just over a minute later, newcomer Tyler Doherty ripped a clapper from the top of the circles past the Kings’ netminder with the assists going to Kent Wing and Chad Benoit. The Kings would put one more past the Eagles in the second, putting them up 7-3 through two periods of play. The third period would be an outright shootout with the Kings scoring six times and the Eagles netting three more. Clazie scored all three goals in the third frame, with assists going to Kallis (2), Neumeier (2), Kelly Rogers and Doherty. The game would finish at 13-6 for the Kings.
Sunday’s game started out all Eagles. They were able to control the entire first period and came out on top 1-0 with a power- play goal being scored by Scott Kallis from Doherty. Evan Miller got the start and turned away all 15 Kings shots.
The second period was a different story. The Kings had a little more step coming out of the gate and were able to put three pucks past Miller to lead the game 3-1 through two periods.
Lloydminster didn’t let up any going into the third frame. They netted four unanswered goals to put them up 7-1 over the Birds. With three minutes left, Neumeier was able to capitalize on a chance with the assists going to Clazie and Kallis, to end the game 7-2. It turned out to be a disappointing weekend for the Birds, but they’re going to move on from the losses and look to next weekend when they host the Bentley Generals on Friday night.
The Generals will be in town on Friday for an 8:30 p.m. puck drop with doors and beer gardens opening at 8 p.m. On this special night, Eagles General Manager Lee Kemp and Generals General Manager Jeff McInnis will be making a special presentation to a longtime supporter of Senior Hockey. On Saturday the boys will board the bus once again but this time to Fort Saskatchewan to visit the Chiefs.
Till next week
