Chris Clegg
South Peace News
Chances were extremely slim at best that the High Prairie Red Wings could catch the Edson Eagles in the battle for first place in the National Junior Hockey League’s Alberta North Division.
But the visiting Eagles put that chance to rest Jan. 4 by smashing the Red Wings 8-3 at the Sports Palace.
The Eagles 24-2-1-0 Eagles now lead the 15-8-1-0 Red Wings by 18 points. Had the Red Wings won they would have still trailed the Eagles by 14 points but they have three games in hand. Still very unlikely to catch the Eagles, but a chance.
Instead, the Red Wings can set their sights on preparing for the playoffs – a tournament they excel at after winning four straight titles over two leagues.
The Eagles blitzed the Red Wings for 69 shots in the win, compared to the Red Wings 47.
The game was close with the Eagles leading 3-2 after one period (the Eagles scored the first three goals in the first 11 minutes) but they outscored the Red Wings 5-1 over the final two periods to take control and outshot them 42-33 to win easily.
Zane Campbell-Gunn and Autin Berezowski each scored twice to pace the Eagles’ attack while Mason Buzzell, Andra Kehl, Landy Johnson and Alysik Buffalo scored the other goals.
Noah Cunningham and Nolan Noskey scored in the first period for the Red Wings while Cunningham added a second goal in the third.
Each team received six minor penalties.