The Innisfail Eagles are one win away from returning to the Vanberg Cup Finals.
The Birds lost 4-2 at home on Friday to Lacombe in Game 3 of their North Central Hockey League semi-final series. The Generals broke the game open by outscoring Innisfail 4-1 in the second period. Jake Smith scored both goals for the Eagles who outshot Lacombe 48-36. Chance Griffith made 32 stops for the home team.
Innisfail would bounce back to take down the Generals 6-3 on the road in Game 4 on Saturday. The Eagles ran away from Lacombe in the third period with three unanswered goals to snap a 3-all tie. Josh Gette, Ty Clay, and Dan Vandermeer (empty netter) scored in the third. Clay finished the game with a pair of goals, while Chance Longjohn also tallied twice. Innisfail had a 40-31 lead in shots. Griffith made 28 saves.
The Eagles are up 3-1 in that best-of-seven playoff match up and they will have a chance to clinch the series with a win when they host Lacombe for Game 5 on Wednesday night at 8.
The Innisfail Eagles are trying to defend the Vanberg Cup title they won in their first year in the league in 2024-2025.
