It was just four years that the Senior AAA Innisfail Eagles competed for the Allan Cup in their home province.
And with only 17 days until they step on the ice in Dundas, Ont. to compete for senior hockey’s holy grail, the franchise feels like they have unfinished business.
In 2019 the Eagles lost in the Allan Cup final to the Lacombe Generals in Lacombe and since then, the tournament has been canceled every year due to COVID-19.
“There’s a lot us returning from that 2019 cup run,” said general manager Ryan Dodd.
“It’s been hanging around. It’s left a knot in your stomach. [Former Eagles head coach Brian] Sutter used to always say to us the only way to get rid of that knot in your stomach is to go out and accomplish what you set out to do.”
That’s exactly what the Eagles hope to accomplish this time around when they head out east from April 17-22.
The Eagles are fresh off a 2023 Alberta Senior AAA Provincial Championship after they swept the Stony Plain Eagles 3-0 to claim the Chinook Hockey League title. They were crowned champions on March 18 in Game 3 by a large 8-3 margin.
Dodd explained it marked the first Senior AAA provincial championship they’ve captured in their 75-year history.
“The team is very excited and the players are beside themselves. They’ve been able to write a chapter of history in the Eagles organization and they’re looking to add another one,” he said.
“We’ve got every intention of going to Dundas this year and capturing our first Allan Cup.”
The team he said has a mix of character and age this season. Some players range from straight out of junior hockey to some veterans who have played years of hockey professionally even in the National Hockey League. The older players have taken some players under their wing and it’s paid off for them.
“The mix of what we have in that dressing room it’s inspired these guys and they’re having fun. We’ve got a mission but we’re going to have a lot of fun doing it… That’s definitely helped build our club this season.”
“We’ve got guys who played pro for the last six to seven years that are coming here telling us it’s the most fun they’ve had playing hockey.”
The Eagles’ first game of the Allan Cup will be on April 17 against the Dundas Real McCoys at 7:30 p.m. followed by a matchup with the Clarenville Ford Caribous at 3:30 p.m. the next day.
On Wednesday, April 19 the Eagles will play their third-round robin game versus the Hamilton Steelers. Depending on how the games go the semifinals will take play at 7:30 p.m. on Friday followed by the Allan Cup final on Saturday.
“We want this championship, we want to bring one home to Innisfail,” he said.
“We’re ready to go that’s for certain. I think we’ve got an excellent chance at winning this.”