This past weekend we saw game one of the 2023-2024 season. Innisfail hosted Stony Plain in what was a high scoring affair. Teams would trade chances early and often in this one. Stony Plain would spoil the party of the defending league and provincial champions with a 7-6 OT thriller. Lets take a look:
Jordan Ceh would strike early for Stony Plain, just 48 seconds into the game. Dan Vandermeer would respond just under a minute later for Innisfail. Quite early you could see that this would be another battle of the birds thriller. The first period would end 3-2 in favour of Stony Plain with shots favoring Stony Plain 15-14. The second period we would only see two goals. Blake Grainger would pot his first of the season, with rookie Braiden Leth responding for Innisfail. The overall pace of play would remain high and competitive, regardless of the shots swinging heavily in Innisfail's favor in this period 18-7. Rookie Kruise Reddick would open up the scoring in the third, with play opening up as the teams combined for 5 goals in the third. Innisfail would trail late into the third, and did all game. it was Vince Connon, who would score with 1:27 remaining to tie the game and force overtime. Shots following regulation play would heavily favor Innisfail 57-31. In overtime we would see chances traded early, with the period eventually slowing as each team figured out a way to take the win. Jacob Heimstra would score with 1:23 left in the OT frame, securing the win for Stony Plain.
Fans were treated to a thrilling opening game. Final shots would be 62-38 in favor of Innisfail. Innisfail would go 1/1 on the powerplay, with Stony Plain converting 2/5 opportunities. Netminders for Innisfail split duties in this one with Chance Griffith making his Chinook Hockey League Debut. Veteran Chance Clark would take over the back half, ultimately taking the loss. Another first, as Colten Iwaschuk would play the whole sixty and then some for Stony Plain, earning his first Chinook Hockey League win.
We saw lots of firsts for both teams in this game. As mentioned above, Chance Griffith and Colten Iwaschuk played their first games respectively, with Colten Iwschuk earning his first win. Kruise Reddick, Ryan Denton, and Jared Mottershead would make their Chinook Hockey League debuts for Stony Plain. With Kruise Reddick (1-2-3), and Ryan Denton (0-2-2) earing their first goals and points respectively. For Innisfail Braiden Leth, Corson Waiting, Logan Richards, and Caylen Cey would make their Chinook Hockey League debuts. Braiden leth (1-0-1), Corson Waiting (0-1-1), and Logan Richards (0-1-1) would score their first points and first goal for Braiden Leth.
Next game goes this weekend October 28th in Stony Plain, with puck drop at 7:45pm.
INNISFAIL EAGLE.
STONY PLAIN EAG.
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