Eagles kick off playoff push

For much of the season, the Canmore Eagles spoke of making the post season, where they planned to make a serious run at the AJHL championship.

Despite finishing the season with a 20-36-4 record, the Eagles will get their chance at playoff success this week.

The Canmore Eagles first home playoff game is set for Sunday (Feb. 27) against the Brooks Bandits. The first two games will occur in Brooks on Feb. 24 and 25, while Game 4, if necessary, will also take place in Canmore on Monday (Feb. 28).

Brooks has an offensively-gifted team, led by Matt Wilkins and Riley Simpson, who finished second and third in league scoring.

The Bandits finished with a 35-18-7 record, good enough for second place in the southern division. They were also the second most offensively prolific team in the division, finishing 33 points ahead of the Eagles.

Coach Andrew Milne said the team has looked at the match-up, and will take a wait and see approach.

“Obviously we’ll be a little more defensively-minded. When their big line gets out there, we’ll make sure we’re ready.”

Milne hasn’t said who he’d like to play against the top Brooks players, but wants to see how the Bandits respond to the Eagles offensive players such as Cody Cartier, Kory Roy, Brian Doust and Ben Bitz.

Cartier finished the season as the team’s top scorer with 22 goals and 45 assists, four points ahead of Kory Roy and ten points ahead of Brian Doust.

“We’ll see how the first two games go,” Milne said.

Despite the efforts of the offence, the head coach said an entire team effort will be required to defeat Brooks.

“We’re going to take the approach of the underdog. They’ve had some success. We won’t have success unless we all put in an effort,” Milne said.

The Eagles will dress a full lineup, and despite a few nagging injuries, they are ready to go.

“This is the healthiest we’ve been all year,” Milne said.

The Eagles also handed out their team awards for the year.

Cartier won the team’s MVP and top scorer award. Most improved player went to John Stevens and rookie of the year award went to Connor Hoekstra. Carson Brown won the academic athletic award, while Kory Roy was given the sportsmanship award.

Newcomer Mitch Kaufman was named the club’s top defenceman, and captain Tyler Horton was the most dedicated player. Goalie Steve Papciak was awarded the humanitarian award.