CANMORE – No team is more aware about how a few points here and there can either be either a lovely oasis at the end of the season or a total or a nightmare like the Canmore Eagles.
The point was made following the local Junior A hockey team’s back-to-back victories over the AJHL champion Calgary Canucks to open the season on Friday and Saturday (Sept. 14-15).
Both games went to extra minutes and each had points on the line that couldn’t be wasted.
“We know we, for a lack of a better term, pissed away points last year in the early year that cost us,” said Andrew Milne, head coach and general manager.
“I think in both these games, going to overtime and a shootout, it was extra points we were able to secure, and I think in the long run, it seems like it’s not a lot now but at the end of the day those might be the difference between home ice and not home ice.”
The Eagles playoffs travel schedule was long and arduous last season, travelling to Fort McMurray, Lloydminster and Whitecourt, which has given a reason for the returning players to have a fire lit under them when extra points were up for grabs.
On Friday, Eagles’ forward Ethan Look scored 16 seconds into overtime to send the hometown crowd home happy with a 4-3 win. The following night in Calgary’s barn, forward Owen Jones’ shootout shot snuck past Canucks goalie Cruz Chase to give the Eagles a 3-2 victory.
Eagles goaltender Alex Scheiwiller went 2-0-0 with a .907 save percentage. The first-year Eagle also shut down all three shots he faced in the shootout despite the efforts of fans to throw him off his game.
“It was actually pretty funny, I heard that behind me there were a couple people in the crowd chanting my name or whatever,” said Scheiwiller, 19. “But no, I wasn't too nervous.”
Scheiwiller, who joined the Eagles this season to come in as the No. 1 netminder, thinks the pair of wins over last year’s Centennial Cup winners sends a big message throughout the league.
“It kinda shows that the Canmore Eagles are here and not to be messed with,” he said. “If we can beat those guys, I think we can beat anyone in the league.”
The Eagles power play went 0-for-7 in the first two games; however, the team’s full strength offence has been clicking since preseason.
Milne said he thinks it’s one of the deepest teams they’ve had up front, giving them the ability to play with a lot more pace than in years past.
One early offensive bright point has been the slick play of forward Zach Coutu, who has two goals and four points.
“Sometimes they just go your way and I'm not gonna complain, of course,” said Coutu, 19.
“I felt pretty good in the game and I was getting helped by a lot of my teammates, which was good.”
Coutu, the second-year Eagle, also highlighted the importance of a strong start to the season.
“I don't really know what happened [last year], we just couldn't find ourselves clicking as a team, but I think this year we have all glued together quite well,” said Coutu. “Everyone wants everyone to succeed, which is big.”
The Eagles next two games are at home. On Friday (Sept. 19), the team plays against the Drayton Valley Thunder. The Following day, the Lloydminster Bobcats are in town.
Puck drop for both games is at 7 p.m.
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