by Ted Stephens - Special to Sylvan Lake News
Innisfail Eagles, with new head coach Brian Sutter, came to Sylvan Lake last Friday, looking for their second win in as many games.
The hometown Sylvan Lake Admirals were hoping to atone for a poor outing the previous weekend and had added three new bodies to their lineup.
It only took 1:32 for Innisfail to take the lead but that was quickly answered a little over two minutes later when the Admirals’ Branden Gay tipped home a bullet pass from Captain Rob Turville. The first period was hard and fast with both teams getting plenty of chances and playing a physical game. At the end of one it remained tied one each with the edge on shots going to the Eagles 17-12.
The second period started out where the first left off and the Admirals took the lead just 1:28 in when Aaron Boyer tipped in a pass from Tyler Moir. Not to be outdone the Eagles rallied just over two minutes later when a nifty three way passing play turned the Admirals D inside out and the game was once again tied.
Sylvan Lake seemed to take their foot off the gas and the Eagles took full advantage, outshooting the Admirals 14-7. A late penalty to the Admirals’ Branden Gay was all the edge needed by Innisfail and they quickly regained the lead with a power play goal, the clock showing 1:16 to go.
What was a good game for the Admirals soon started to slip away as Innisfail continued to press and the Admirals got away from their game plan.
Innisfail scored at 16:62 in the third and Sylvan Lake answered three minutes later when Brandon Knelsen scored from Jeff Young but that was all the Admirals had to offer.
A couple of crazy bounces later gave Innisfail a two goal advantage at 12:18 followed a minute later by an Eagle power play marker. Final tally 6-3 for Innisfail.
“We have work to do,” said Assistant Coach Tyler Lightbown after the game. “We had a simple game plan but we seemed to get too soft midway through the second and that carried into the third. Innisfail is a quality squad and any player taking them lightly needs to have a second look.
“There were some real positives coming out of this and our back end has come a long way in one week,” added Lightbown.
“We’ll be working to improve our obvious weak spots and our game tape should help pinpoint the little mistakes.”
The Admirals next home game is tomorrow (Friday) when the Bentley Generals come to the multiplex. Game time 8:30 p.m.