The Canmore Eagles appear to have found a solution to their early season woes: brotherly love.
Three sets of brothers – Luke and Simon Philp, Alex and Cam Barnes, Riley and Brayden Point – all contributed in back-to-back victories on Nov. 17 and 18, the first time the club has won two in a row since Nov. 2010.
At Alex Kaleta Arena on Friday, Cam Barnes was strong in net while Riley Point recorded four assists, the best offensive output of his AJHL career, to power the Eagles to a 5-3 win over the Calgary Mustangs.
Riley was joined by recent signing Brayden Point, who was playing with the midget Calgary Bisons, where he scored 102 points in 33 games last season. He was drafted in the first round of the WHL draft by the Moose Jaw Warriors and was dangerous for the Eagles all night.
Riley said intensity was the deciding factor against the Mustangs, who were riding an 8-1 hot streak before facing the Eagles.
“We had a real good talk about bringing intensity to every game. Everyone brought a 100 per cent effort.”
Riley has picked up his game offensively and now sits second in team scoring with 20 points in 26 games, just behind team leader Zack Rassell. His four-point night was his best thus far.
“I definitely wanted to add offence this year. I started slow, but it’s starting to roll now. I’m getting the bounces now.”
Taking shifts with his brother was a first and an experience he’ll remember.
“We’ve never played together in an actual game. Hopefully it’s not last time I get to play with him.”
The momentum shift is giving the team confidence, the rugged winger said, which should carry them up the standings.
“We’re on an upswing right now. I see no reason we can’t become a winning team.”
Luke Simpson opened scoring in the first period. He stripped a Mustangs defender of the puck, walked into the slot and sent a wrist shot into the top corner of the net.
Reinbolt made it 2-0 on a beautiful setup by Rassel and the Eagles were in control.
New Eagle Brayden Point then scored his first of the season. The barely 15-year-old forward, playing with brother Riley and Reinbolt, was the beneficiary of a strong forecheck, as he made no mistake with his first scoring chance of the game.
By the end of the second period, the Eagles relaxed and the Mustangs slid the puck past a surprised Cam Barnes, who had been perfect until that point.
The Eagles regained momentum when Luke Philp beat Mustangs goalie Jay Deo clean on a breakaway to make it 4-1.
The Mustangs added a powerplay goal with five minutes to play, however, Justin Krabben followed that up by cashing in a Riley Point effort. The Mustangs added one more on a 5-on-3 powerplay, however, the Eagles cruised to the 5-3 victory.
After the game, coach Andrew Milne said the win was a total team effort.
“I liked our game from top to bottom. Our D played probably their best game and their gap control was good, taking away time and space. Up front we were relentless with the puck, we shot and we took it to the net,” Milne said.
Krabben, Alex Barnes, Ciaron Driscoll, Mitch Kaufmann and captain Davis Claffey were strong on the backend, which helped goalie Cam Barnes immensely.
“I’ve been harping on them all year to control the gap. It’s like riding a bike. It’s hard to learn, but once you get it, it’s easy,” Milne said.
After two wins and a good stretch of close games, he sees signs of more good things to come for the Eagles.
“You’re seeing a lot of what we’ve worked on all year come together. We’re definitely doing good things. We’ve learned to find ways to win. Our experience is starting to show, our young guys are playing like mature players.”
Against the Dragons in Drumheller on Saturday (Nov. 19), Luke Philp had three points on the way to a 5-3 victory. Going into the game, Drumheller was the team the Eagles have to catch to secure the final playoff spot in the division, so a strong third period punctuated by goals from Riley Point and Connor Hoekstra helped the Canmore cause.
The Late Score
After back-to-back wins, the Calgary Canucks clipped the Eagles’ wings 7-3 at Alex Kaleta Arena, Tuesday (Nov. 22).
A 4-1 first period was all the Canucks needed as the Calgary squad outshot the Eagles 50-42 in the win.
Eagles Keegan Thompson (first period) and John Stevens and Riley Reinbolt (third period) scored for the Eagles.
A penalty-filled third period saw the teams split 17 penalties and a brawl at the end of the game saw Stevens take majors for fighting and kneeing and a game misconduct after a bout with Canuck Sean Wallace.
Eagles goalie Cam Barnes replaced starter Michael Salmon and got the nod as Canmore’s game star. Barnes, though, received a 10-minute misconduct at 18:43 of the third and was ejected, to be replaced by Salmon.
As of press deadline, the Eagles and Dragons are tied with 14 points in the south division. Canmore has one more win than Drumheller (seven), and is five points behind the Calgary Canucks for sixth place in the eight-team South Division.
The Eagles are in Drumheller Friday (Nov. 25), then host the Mustangs again on Nov. 26 at Alex Kaleta Arena.
