INNISFAIL – Innisfail Eagles head coach Ryan Dodd was right along.
The Devon Barons may have finished in sixth place in the nine-team North Central Hockey League but they are an absolutely good and determined senior men's hockey team.
They may not be the best offensive hockey team Dodd has ever seen but Devon never quits, and so far after two games of the best-of-five quarter-finals they have pushed the third-place Birds to the limit.
“You get those games where you play teams that just keep on coming and never give up, and that's exactly what these guys are,” said Dodd of the Barons. “They just work hard every shift, no matter who they got on the ice, they just keep on coming.”
Devon beat the Birds 5 - 4 in their home rink in double overtime on Feb. 7 to win the series opener.
Innisfail absolutely needed to win back home on Feb. 9 to tie the series or else they would have faced the daunting task of having to win three straight to make the semifinals.
And the Birds delivered with a gutsy 6 – 4 win at the Innisfail Twin Arena.
Series tied. The Birds can relax, at least until Friday when the Barons return for the third game of the series.
“Tonight was big. You go down two nothing you create a big hole for yourself, and nobody wants to be in that scenario,” said Eagles forward Ty Clay. “It’s a big win, and now it's a best-of-three, and we got home ice back. So, it's advantageous us I'd say.”
The key point in the game on Feb. 9 was midway in the third period when Innisfail was leading 5 – 4 but suddenly ran into penalty trouble and had to face the Barons five-on-three for most of two minutes.
The Birds penalty killing team stepped up big time and Devon was actually outplayed for a good part of the penalty kill.
And it took the steam out of Devon while the Birds remained energized for the rest of the game.
“I look up and down our lineup and you can throw pretty much anybody out there to kill a penalty. These guys are smart hockey players,” said Dodd. “They've been there, they've done that, and they know how to kill penalties.
“And it was clear tonight that we did a great job on our five-on-threes and five-on-fours.”
At the other end of the rink Devon coach Doug McCarthy had plenty of respect for the Eagles, especially on the crucial penalty kill.
“We know their penalty kill is actually a threat. They threatened to score,” noted McCarthy. “Our guys are a little bit nervous out there with all that speed. But you know what?
“All of a sudden we had a couple chances but they (Eagles) shut us down on the five-on-three.”
Offensively, the Eagles’ Chance Longjohn, who was named the game’s first star, had two goals and two assists, as did Chase Thudium.
Jacob Wozney had a goal and four assists, and Tyler Berkholtz had a single marker.
“It was a big one at home. We got to defend our barn, and that's what we did,” said Longjohn. “It was a gritty win, and I’m glad we pulled it off.”
Once again the Eagles outshot their opponents.
The Birds fired 50 shots at Barons netminders Mike Gudmandson and Laine McIntosh while Innisfail goalie Wade Waters faced 32 shots to claim the win.
Game 3 of the series is Friday, Feb. 14 at the Innisfail Twin Arena. Puck drop is 8 p.m.
