Brittain, Reimer join All-Star showcase

Plenty of hockey pundits consider all-star games a tremendous waste of time and just a glorified game of shinny, but don’t tell that to Eagles’ rookie netminder Sam Brittain and team leading scorer Lee Reimer.

The pair of Eagles standouts, who participated in the 2010 Alberta Junior Hockey League All-Star Game in Fort McMurray, Saturday (Jan. 30), had a splendid time despite their South Division All-Star squad falling to the North for the fourth straight year, this time by an inflated score of 14-9.

A unanimous selection for Brittain at this year’s best-on-best contest came as no surprise, as the first-year netminder is tops among all rookie goaltenders in wins (19), is second only to Bonnyville Pontiacs veteran Julien Laplante in minutes played (2,573), and has been peppered with the third most amount of rubber (1,351) of any goalie this season.

Brittain, 17, who has committed to the University of Denver for the 2010-11 campaign, called it an honour to be selected to the All-Star Game as a rookie.

“It was a great experience to spend time with the best players in the league and to see how they operate both on and off the ice. And it was great to see the amazing skill we have in this league,” said Brittain, who allowed three goals in the first period – the least amount surrendered by any of the three South Division masked men.

“I was nervous to start, but once I settled in I enjoyed myself. It was a lot of work, because as goaltender we get a lot of action and a ton of shots in those types of games, but it also makes it fun… it lets us show off our skills.”

A 6-0, 170-pound Landmark, MB native, Reimer, who his all-star counterpart Brittain calls “a special player”, picked up two assists in his All-Star Game debut. The 19-year-old, who currently sits 10th in league scoring, also leads the Eagles in a majority of offensive categories, including goals (28), assists (36), power play goals (nine), shorthanded goals (four), and game winning goals (four).

“It was a fun time,” said the future Michigan State Spartan, who will not return to the Eagles squad next year. “It was a casual game, not too intense, but with a ton of skill.”

According to head coach/GM Andrew Milne, who was one of 2,000-plus spectators taking in the weekend festivities, the entire Eagles organization is proud of their all-star tandem.

“It’s always an honour to be selected to an All-Star Game, and it’s a great accomplishment for both Lee and Sam,” said Milne. “For Sam to be selected as a rookie just shows the calibre of goaltender he is, and it was a well-deserving nod for Lee who has had an amazing season to this point.”

Both Brittain and Reimer, who rejoined their Eagles teammates for a high-tempo practice Monday morning (Feb. 1), realize now it’s back to business as usual, with their squad facing an uphill battle for home ice in the playoffs. With nine games to play, the Eagles currently sit five points back of the Calgary Canucks for third place in the South.

“We had a great weekend, but now we’re ready for the final stretch,” said Brittain. “We’ve been working towards this stretch all season, and now that it’s finally here I think we’re ready to make some noise.”

“It’s so close right now (in the standings),” furthered Reimer. “We just have to fight back and start winning the key games, especially against teams like Olds and Brooks, which are ahead of us right now.”