CANMORE – A new season for the Canmore Eagles is set to begin, but the Junior A hockey club isn’t looking to nest following its playoff success just a few months ago. Instead, the peckish group looks to touch down in new territory.
Puck drop for the Eagles season home opener is Friday (Sept. 13) against the AJHL champion Calgary Canucks at the Canmore Recreation Centre.
Though the local club didn’t advance to the 2023-24 finals to play against Friday’s opponent, the Eagles had hovered around a potential shot at playing for the Inter Pipeline Cup before being eliminated in Game 7 of the semifinals against the Whitecourt Wolverines.
The memory still sits in the back of the mind of the players returning to the mountain town club.
“All the guys that were there last year are super hungry for it again this year,” said Eagles winger Haruki Morikawa.
“I think the biggest thing for us is to translate that into the new guys here and just show them how bad we want it and hopefully they’ll jump on the train with us.”
Morikawa, a Banff-raised forward, said the team has all the necessary components to make another crack at it with speed, size and experience. One thing that the team is fully aware of is its slow start last season, which is something they can’t afford to repeat. In other words, the early bird gets the worm.
“I think a big thing that we’re focusing right now is starting right on time, right when the season starts,” said Morikawa.
The Alberta Junior Hockey League’s (AJHL) structure will be different this season, going back to a two division league, with fewer teams and with fewer games on tap than one year ago following five teams jumping over to the BCHL mid-season.
Now with 12 teams set to play 54 games, the schedule mimics a college style, with more weekend games than midweek.
“I think it’s just gonna make the league that much more competitive,” said Morikawa. “The stakes and the teams will be that more tight in the standings and every game means so much more.”
The Eagles preseason was short and sweet as well, just playing two games and posting two victories against the Olds Grizzlys.
The Eagles two goaltenders – Alexander Scheiwiller and Hudson Sedo – each picked up victories.
Scheiwiller, a 19-year-old Calgarian who signed with the club in the summer, is Canmore’s No. 1 goalie for the 2024-25 campaign.
He had a 10-7 record last season with the Okotoks Oilers and Spruce Grove Saints in the AJHL. When the Saints left for the BCHL, Scheiwiller went 2-7-1.
“Alex will probably take the majority of [starts] just based on his experience,” said Andrew Milne, Eagles head coach and general manager. “But, you know, I think Hudson’s gonna come in and compete and try and challenge as much as we can to get the net as often as you can.”
Hudson, 18, has played two games with the Eagles, going 1-1-0 with one shut out and had an .882 save percentage.
Currently, the Eagles have two Bow Valley-raised players on the squad – forwards Morikawa and Owen Jones.
Jones, an offensive threat, is entering a third full season with the club. The Canmore forward scored 15 goals and 40 points last season, the most points out of the current Eagles crop.
The soon-to-be 20-year-old said he wants to take that extra leap forward in progression, whether that’s in a leadership role and/or becoming a highly desired “high-end offensive guy.”
“I really want to take that step to be that 60-point type of guy this year for the team,” Jones said. “I think that’s all of us 20 year olds. We’re really trying to help those rookies and be good leaders and role models for them.
“I think that’s kind of all of our goals this year is to really produce for our team and help us get back to that point we were last year.”
Though it’s way too early to assess where the Eagles are at, the goal is crystal clear.
“We wanna play in the finals. We wanna play in the national championship this year,” said Milne. “That’s our goal and that’s what we’re going to strive for. We’re going to push for that and we're going to try to push ourselves in the best position we can to do that.”
For the season’s schedule, visit www.canmoreeagles.ca.
Prior to Friday’s puck drop, the Eagles are hosting a tailgate party at 5 p.m. in front of the Canmore Recreation Centre.
Eagles desperately seeking billet homes
The Eagles are also still trying to house a couple of its players, who are without a vehicle, closer to town. One of whom is attending school full-time.
“We’ve got a great deal ... out in Exshaw, but right now, we just need that player to be closer to school,” said Milne.
“So that’s another challenge that we’re faced with is just making sure we get the right homes for each individual need.”
The Eagles are offering $600 per month to house a player, typically aged between 17-20 years old, which is up $100 per month from 2023-24.
The club also gives billets season tickets, 15 per cent off groceries at Save-On Foods, early access to special events, and other local business discounts.
For those interested in billeting, email coordinator Lyndsay Kearns at [email protected].
.png;w=120;h=108;mode=crop)
