PORT ALICE—The Eagles Midgets were two-thirds of the way to a fine victory against the Tier 2 Comox Chiefs last weekend before a third-period collapse allowed the visitors to skate away with a 4-2 win.
A three-goal flurry from the Chiefs in the closing nine minutes overturned a hard-earned 2-1 Eagles lead that carried deep into the third period.
After a back-and-forth opening to the game, the Eagles gradually took control as the period went on. The home side were rewarded with a goal with 7:32 on the clock when a Malcolm Browne shot found Zach Cameron on the crease, his deflection steering the puck into the net.
The Eagles found their check late in the period, and initially paid the price for overuse when a power-play goal from the visitors tied the score.
The hitting paid off immediately in the second.
The Eagles found an extra yard from the puck drop, the visitors seemingly reluctant to crowd the home side and the Eagles took full advantage.
Darryl Coon took control of the puck in centre ice and intelligently held up play waiting for the onside. When the Comox defenders failed to close him out, Coon pushed into space across the blue line and let fly with a long-range missile that caught the Comox goalie flatfooted and gave the Eagles the lead.
The home side could have had more as they peppered the goal with mid- to long-range efforts, perhaps choosing the shot over the pass a little too often.
The Eagles were dominant before the ice-cleaning break, relishing the extra space, quick to chase down loose pucks and looking far hungrier than the visitors.
But for a six-minute spell in the third where all the damage was done, the Eagles were the superior side on the ice.
The midgets will be back in action Saturday when they host Nanaimo at 2:30 p.m. in Port Hardy.