The Innisfail Eagles have broken their losing streak with a 6-1 victory over the Stony Plain Eagles on Dec. 5 at the Innisfail Twin Arenas in front of a crowd of more than 150 fans.
With a berth at the bottom of the Chinook Hockey League standings at stake and a 3-2 loss to their Stony Plain counterparts on Nov. 22 in the back of their minds, the local team came out skating and shooting hard against their undermanned opponents.
Prior to the puck drop, Eagles game announcer Greg Shannon introduced the Innisfail Phantom Midget B provincial lacrosse championship team who unfurled their winning banners.
Scoring on their first shot of the game, 44 seconds in, Mark Bomersback hit the back of the net on a slap shot from right of the goal from Joe Vandermeer and Mike Wirll to make the game 1-0 - sending toques flying from the spectators onto the ice for the Innisfail Toque Toss.
The Innisfail team shot hard and shot often, leading seven shots to one seven minutes in before both teams settled into a respectful rhythm of skate, shoot, and dump while clean play dominated the game.
Fresh to the Innisfail squad from the Stony Plain Eagles, newcomer Justin Cox scored 14:11 into the first frame from Mike Wirll and Mark Bomersback on a two-on-one breakaway to give the local Birds a two-goal lead.
The second period saw a three -explosion from the local team, two goals on power plays by Chad Ziegler and Pete Vandermeer, with assists by Brendan Baumgartner, and Ashton Reinboldt and Ziegler (on Vandermeer's goal), and an even strength notch by Reinboldt to make the game 5-0.
Burke Gallimore broke Travis Ziegler's shutout bid at 2:55 of the third period on a power play while Bomersback was called for high sticking. Innisfail replied with 2:13 left in the game as Justin Cox scored his second of the game from Cris Neurauter and goalie Travis Ziegler to finish the game 6-1.
“Tonight we had the Cartwrights,” said Dan Daines, Innisfail Eagle board member. “Pete, Dan, and Joe Vandermeer were on ice and their parents were in the house. Their presence on the team makes a big difference.”
Dez Lorencz, team general manager, was pleased the Eagles had managed to snag Justin Cox from the Stony Plain team earlier in the week.
“He led the league in scoring two seasons ago, and tonight he showed why. He was an immediate impact player with two goals tonight,” said Lorencz.
With the victory, the Innisfail team sits in fourth place tied with the Fort Saskatchewan Chiefs with eight points.
Ziegler was named game star for the Innisfail squad while Burke Gallimore received the nod for the visitors.
The Innisfail Eagles play their next game against the league leading Bentley Generals at home on Dec. 10.
Dan Daines
"Tonight we had the Cartwrights. Pete, Dan, and Joe Vandermeer were on ice and their parents were in the house. Their presence on the team makes a big difference."
