The Innisfail Eagles have a long and storied history in senior hockey.
One missing piece of the puzzle, an Allan Cup appearance has long been absent from the resume.
That is set to change Monday when they make their debut at the senior AAA national championships in Lacombe. Innisfail lost the provincial final 7-4 in a two-game total goals series with the host Generals, but enter the tournament as Alberta’s second representative.
Eagles goalie Kraymer Barnstable can’t wait for the opportunity to be back in the net on the biggest stage.
Barnstable has a history with both the host Lacombe Generals and the Allan Cup itself. He was the puckstopper for Lacombe two years ago at the Allan Cup in 2017. They lost to the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts 7-4 that season in the final.
“It’s a pretty cool tournament and I think it’s older than the Stanley Cup. I know it has a long, long history. Just from my experience a few years ago, I know these teams, they are all-star teams. Especially the teams from out East. They will be extremely talented,” Barnstable said.
To start the year, he was somewhat reluctantly retired.
The 28-year-old took on a full-time goalie coach job with the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels and wasn’t able to commit to the Eagles. When the Rebels were bounced from the playoffs, Brent Sutter and his brother Brian, who coaches the Eagles had a conversation about getting Barnstable back between the pipes.
Rather quickly, he was thrown into action and after a few games, the former WHL goalie feels like he’s ready to go for the Allan Cup.
“I was planning at the start of the year to play again for the Eagles. I did not know I was going to be hired by the Rebels… Later in the year, when they were in provincials, the Eagles starting goal was away for work for a month. Brian had a conversation with Brent and he gave me the green light to play,” Barnstable said.
“Fortunate enough, I had practiced with the Rebels that week… was able to suit up a couple times before I went into provincials. I kind of had the itch to play all year. It just kind of worked out well that I was able to fit in.”
He likes the Eagles’ chances, too. As a man with experience at these championships, he thinks Innisfail’s lunch pail style of play will match up well against the highly skilled teams from the east.
“Being coached by Brian and having an older team, we have that grit that maybe some of the other teams might not have,” Barnstable said.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to match the other teams with skill level. We’ll have a chance if we play an old school game and grind teams down. I don’t think the teams out east are used to playing a physical game.”
Sutter referenced guys like Darren Reid, Alex Curran, Kurt Bensmiller and Brett O’Malley as pieces that could help them get over the hump at the Allan Cup. The veteran leadership of Joe Vandermeer and Chad Robinson should help, along with Allan Cup Hockey West regular season scoring leader and co-league MVP Shawn Bates will be an advantage as well.
“We’ve got three lines that are as good as our number one line last year. They’re not just good players, they’re good people. Good teammates to each other,” said the Eagles head coach.
Innisfail kicks off the national senior AAA championship Monday at 4 p.m. against the Rosetown Red Wings. The Eagles ousted the Red Wings in four games in the ACHW semi-final, but Barnstable said their group isn’t overlooking anyone this time of year.
“We did sweep them in the playoffs,” Barnstable said.
“Anytime you beat a team, especially in playoffs, you definitely have the confidence which will be good. Obviously, in this tournament, rosters are the best roster you’re going to have.”
Innisfail will also play the defending champion Stony Creek Generals in its second game on April 9. Haut Madawaska of Manitoba is the other team in division 2.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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