Gazette staff

PORT HARDY — What was looking like a solid, hard-earned victory slipped away from the host North Island Eagles Saturday when Victoria Racquet Club forged a 5-5 tie on a floating wrist shot from the point with 5:55 to play in bantam rep action at Port Hardy arena.

Logan Taylor’s opportunistic shot from the slot at 2:30 of the third period had given the Eagles their third lead in the see-saw game, and solid goaltending at both ends made the score stand up until the tying goal.

The Eagles had to settle for a single point for the weekend when Kerry Park rode a strong goaltending effort to a 6-0 victory over the bantams in another placement-round game Sunday in Port Alice.

But first-year head coach Rob Brittain said the North Island club, made up of a mix of first- and second-year players, is still working out some early season kinks.

“We’re still figuring out where they want to play,” Brittain said after Saturday’s game, which saw several players rotating from defence to the forward line or vice versa.

“The positions are not set yet, and that’s what’s messing us up.”

The Eagles led 1-0 and 2-1 in the first period, with both goals coming from Eric Kennelly on assists from Thor Rosback and Jared Sinclair.

The game turned to the visitors in the second period, when they wrapped three scores around Logan’s breakaway tally to take a 4-3 advantage.

But the Eagles reclaimed the momentum behind the goal of the day, Ethan Shaw’s sliding shot from the right circle after he was knocked down by a pair of defenders with 18:43 to play.

Logan followed barely a minute later with the go-ahead goal.

“That goal by Ethan on his belly inspired everyone,” Brittain said. “After that the team really started flying.”

Derian Hamilton added two assists for the Eagles and Samantha Dutcyvich and Mitchell Walker chipped in singles in Saturday's draw.