The Innisfail Eagles have been challenged! I received a phone call from a young lady last week asking if the Eagles would be interested in joining the Movember campaign in support of Prostate Cancer Canada. I was a little hesitant at first, until she mentioned that Bentley and Sylvan Lake had also been challenged. The three central Alberta teams have been pitted against one another to see who can grow the best set of moustaches for the month of November and, more importantly, to see who can raise the most amount of money for Prostate Cancer Canada.

I have taken this challenge personally and have chosen to shave my beard that I have had for more than 10 years. This was a huge decision for me to make as my wife and kids have never seen me without a beard. My hope is that by me choosing to fully embrace this challenge that it will draw enough attention to this cause locally and the Eagles will raise the most amount of money out of the three teams.

The Eagles have registered online at http://ca.movember.com for anyone who is interested in making a donation. Donations can be made to the team as a whole or to your favourite Eagle player. The Eagles will also be putting $1 from each adult admission in November towards Movember. The Eagles play three times at home, with the first game being Nov. 12 against the Bentley Generals. If not to support the Eagles, please come out to our November games in support of Movember and its fight against prostate cancer.

Speaking of Bentley, we did travel there on Friday. The Eagles’ performance for the first two periods was pretty lack luster. The boys all must have worked really hard at their day jobs because they showed no energy on the ice during the first and second period. The defensemen left goaltender Brett Anderson hung out to dry on many occasions and he was forced to try and be the team’s only source of defense. Anderson faced 23 shots and managed to stop 16 of them giving Bentley a 7-0 lead after two periods.

Evan Miller started the third period for the Eagles, along with what looked like 18 new players. The Eagles came out in third looking to redeem themselves, somewhat. Jeff Clazie put the Eagles on the scoreboard early in the third from Ryan Kallis. The Eagles then went on the power play for a good portion of the period. Clazie scored the Eagles’ second goal with help from Kallis and Carl Bjorge. With the Eagles finally showing some life, the goals kept coming. Joey Keys scored the Eagles’ third goal, which was on the power play, with apples going to Clark Lowry and Andrew MacKenzie. Kelly Rogers made a rush up the ice off a feed from Lowry and MacKenzie for the Eagles’ third power play goal and fourth of the game. Time would run out before the Eagles could tuck any more pucks in the Bentley net, ending the period 7-4.

Miller, being relieved in his last start against the Admirals after eight goals, was out to redeem himself personally when he was brought into the game against Bentley. Miller turned away all 14 shots he faced in the game to bring back his self-confidence and building confidence back with the team.

The Eagles came home on the losing end of a 7-4 score.

Next on the docket for the Birds is a road trip to Lloydminster. The Eagles will leave Saturday morning for Lloyd and will play back to back. Saturday’s game will start at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday’s game will go at 1:30 p.m.

After the Eagles’ road trip to Lloyd, they will return home on Nov. 12. This will be our first Movember challenge game. Game time will be 8:30 p.m. Come out and support the Eagles against the Bentley Generals. The Eagles will also have a separate donation can for anyone wanting to make an extra cash donation. All cash donations are tax deductible if you take the time to fill out your information on the pledge sheet that will be provided. And don’t forget that you can also go to ca.movember.com and find the Innisfail Eagles and make your donations by credit card and Prostate Cancer Canada will send you your tax-deductible receipt.‘Til next week.