PORT HARDY—The North Island Eagles atom development side put on a show for the home crowd last weekend as they romped to an 11-2 demolition of the Comox Chiefs at the Don Cruickshank Memorial Arena.
While the coaches will certainly be happy with the win, even more telling was the manner with which the young side took the game by the scruff of the neck and never let go.
When the Eagles cruised to four up in the opening five minutes, the game looked to be on course for a cricket score. But as the visitors sank back to try and stifle the Eagles’ front line they could only manage to slow the torrent of goals to a steady stream.
The visitors were pressed into their own zone for much of the game as the Eagles showed maturity and patience on the puck, crafting chance after chance, while the defensemen were quick to shut down breakaways, leaving goaltender Kayden Jones with long stretches as a spectator.
The Eagles were 8-0 up before the visitors got on the sheet through a buzzer-beating flick from the high slot that squeaked through Jones’ pads. Comox added a second early in the third before the Eagles switched back on and raced away to 11-2.
Five Eagles got on the scoresheet with Ethan Bono bagging four to go with his two assists.
Tyler Roper got a pair of goals — including one scored from his knees — to go along with his two helpers. Captain Tynan Klein-Beekman and Cole Klughart added two each, Klughart adding an assist. Keenan Saunders found the net for the other Eagles goal, while Peyton Dugas and Daunte McKinney added assists.
The atoms will hope to replicate their form as they take on Campbell River B in Port Alice next Saturday in a league matchup.