The Senior Eagles sought vengeance over last year’s playoff defeat, when the Eagles hosted the Daysland Northstars, Nov. 11.
In what can only be called a “spirited” game, the Eagles fought their way to overtime only to lose 4-3.
It was an exciting and close game, especially in the third period when the Eagles came back to take the game into overtime.
The first period saw the Eagles on the defensive as the Northstars took to the ice ready and raging.
The Northstars were the first on the board, after connecting with the puck towards the end of the first.
Going into the middle frame the Eagles were behind, 1-0, with two periods left to play and lots of time to make up the difference.
The Eagles didn’t make it onto the scoreboard until Matt Schmermund got hold of the puck off a feed from teammates Devon Hobbs and Brendan Lambs midway through the second period.
The Eagles were unable to score again in the second, and couldn’t stop two big plays by the Northstars which kept them ahead.
With one period left two play, the Eagles were trailing 3-1.
The final period of the game is where the Eagles shone. The team picked it up on the defence, stopping the attempts of the Northstars for the entire 20 minutes of play.
On the offence, the Eagles put in a strong, and successful, effort.
Lamb and Schmermund assisted Eagles player Jordan Koopmans goals on the power play with a little more than five minutes left in the third period.
Schmermund came back for his second goal of the game to tie the score at three apiece. Schmermund was assisted by Patrick Turville and Chance Abbott.
With two minutes left in the period, both teams were unable to take the puck home, sending the game into overtime.
The four-on-four, five-minute overtime was cut short two minutes in when Daysland found an opening and took the win 4-3.
The Eagles’ goal tender Mackenzie Engel played the entire 62 minutes of the game and was able to save 49 out of the 53 shots on net.
It was a bit of a rough game on both sides with a total of 15 penalties given out over the course of the game. Penalties were given for everything from roughing, slashing and misconduct.
The Eagles will seek a rematch of Nov. 11 game as they travel to Daysland on Nov. 17.
The next home game for the Senior Eagles will be on Nov. 18 when the team takes on the Bonneyville Senior Pontiacs. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. at the Eckville Arena.
megan.roth@eckvilleecho.com
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