With several 20-year-old players on the roster of an eighth-place team, the Canmore Eagles plan to be active as the AJHL trade deadline approaches on Tuesday (Jan. 10).
“We’ll certainly explore some options. We’ve got some elite older players and the talks have already started,” said head coach and general manager Andrew Milne.
Scrappy forward Riley Reinbolt, number one defenceman Justin Krabben, captain Davis Claffey and smooth-skating Mitch Kaufmann are all in their final year of eligibility for the junior A league, and could help a contending team in exchange for young prospects. The Eagles need to reload for next season and getting a return on those 20-year-olds could help ensure the squad is heading in the right direction.
However, they’re also players who could contribute to an Eagles playoff push.
Since beginning the season with an abysmal 3-17 record, the team has played .500 hockey for the past two months.
“The team is going in the right direction. They’re playing better and it’s taken the guys time to get the experience they need. The only way to get experience is to get the experience, and guys like Luke Simpson and Jeremy Margeson are getting that,” Milne said.
Health has contributed to the team’s improved play and veterans such as Riley Point have elevated their game. In all, the team is happy to close the book on 2011, following the disastrous start and the death of Patrick Steel. However, the team has turned around its fortunes and a new perspective appears to have helped the club.
“There’s more to life than just hockey. It’s easy to get so involved in the game and forget these are teenage boys. I think now we’re creating better role models and people,” Milne said.
With six Canmore players on the club (John Stevens, Simon and Luke Philp, Jeremy Gordon, Luke Simpson and Nils Moser), the club has ensured those future role models are under a brighter spotlight, however, Milne said they aren’t treated differently than any other player on the team.
“I don’t view Simpson any differently than I view Margeson. All of these players would be in the AJHL. They’re not token locals. We’re just fortunate they agreed to play here,” Milne said.
The Eagles did lose leading scorer Luke Philp for several games over the holiday season, as he was recalled by the WHL’s Kootenay Ice. The Ice had four players selected by Canada’s U-17 team, and Philp, who has excelled for the Eagles, got the call-up. Milne, however, believes the shifty centre will be back in the lineup this weekend.
The Eagles also lost Canmore native Nils Moser, who was also called up by the WHL’s Regina Pats.
“He’s burned up his NCAA eligibility and is not getting the ice time he needs in Regina,” Milne said. “We expect we’ll get him back.”
The Eagles hosted the Calgary Canucks, Wednesday (Jan. 4), but the score wasn’t available at press time. The team’s next home game is on Saturday (Jan. 7) against the Lloydminster Bobcats. The puck drops at 7 p.m.
