In a wild and rough start to the season the Sicamous Eagles prevailed 3-2 over their rivals from Revelstoke on Friday night.
“It was a great game for both teams,” said Wayne March, Eagles general manager.
“Both teams are young, and it was a battle right to the end.”
The Eagles got off to a dream start just 34 seconds into the 2015/16 season, when Nathan Plessis finished off a brilliant passing display by William Mizuik and Bradley Whitehead.
However, the Grizzlies showed their teeth only a minute later, when Kaden Black scored an equalizer, with the assist coming from Nii Noi Tetteh.
The quick pace of the game continued as both teams traded scoring chances.
At the eight minute mark emotions of the season opener boiled over as the Eagles’ Darien Blight and the Grizzlies’ Kyle Baron squared off in a fight, which resulted in both players being tossed from the game.
After the fight, penalties were commonplace as each team racked up 14 penalties between them.
“I think opening night nerves got the better of some of the players,” said March.
A powerplay goal by Danny O’Donnell gave the Eagles a single goal lead after one period of play, and mid way through the second period Tyler Collens scored what would be the game’s eventual winner.
On Saturday evening the Eagles hosted the Creston Valley Thunder Cats, and were bested 7-3. With the additions of Alex Astasiewicz and Landon Fuller, both of whom have WHL pedigrees, anchoring the blue line, March is already confident his team will reach the playoffs.
The Eagles host the Princeton at the Rec Centre on Saturday at 7 p.m.