Eagles’ captain Travis Cunningham goes top shelf for one of three goals on the night during the team’s 8-7 loss Jan. 10 to the Spirit River Rangers.

The Lakeland Eagles four-game winning streak is officially over. The North Peace Hockey League club lost for the first time in five starts last Thursday after Spirit River rolled into town like thieves in the night, stealing a win and two points in the overall standings following an 8-7 win. The game saw both teams play tight in the opening frame before heading to the dressing room in a 2-2 deadlock after the opening 20 minutes. But the real turning point came in the second period when Spirit River outscored 4-1 to take a commanding 6-3 lead. Lakeland added four of their own in the final 20 minutes but it wasn’t enough as the Rangers banged home two more for the win. Scoring for Lakeland was Travis Cunningham with the hat-trick, with Steven Cunningham adding a pair. Singles went to Jeff Taylor and Shawn Brekker. Post-Christmas recap Lakeland’s recent hot streak began prior to the new year when the Eagles swept back-to-back games against the High Prairie Regals. That included an 11-5 win at home Dec. 27 followed by an 8-7 overtime thriller two nights later in High Prairie. Leading the way for Lakeland in the scoring department was veteran Al Anderson, who buried three goals and added a pair of assists for a five-point night. Also making a significant contribution was Jay Anderson with two goals and four assists as well as T. Cunningham, who picked up two goals and three assists. Singles, meanwhile, went to Raymond Cunningham and S. Cunningham. Playing the role of spoiler in Lakeland’s Dec. 29 tilt with the Regals was Mark Lindsay whose even strength goal at the 2:41 mark of overtime proved to be the difference in a see-saw battle that went back and forth. The game saw the Eagles build up a 7-5 lead in the third period before High Prairie battled back to force overtime with two goals in the final five minutes of play. Contributing singles in the game for the Eagles was Brekker, Andrew Lamouche and Eli Cunningham while Jerry Cunningham and A. Anderson potted two goals each. Lakeland also posted a convincing 10-2 win at home Jan. 3 over the Falher Pirates prior to doubling up Fort St. John with an 8-3 win at home Jan. 5. The four straight wins left the Eagles sitting atop the league totem pole in the East Division with a 12-6 win-loss record. The team hits the road this week for games in High Prairie (Jan. 17) followed by Valleyview Jan. 19. Lakeland’s next home game is Jan. 24 when they host Valleyview. Game time is 8:30 p.m. In other league-related news, the NPHL is now down to 10 teams after the Manning Comets folded Jan. 4 due to a lack of committed players. All teams with games against the Comets remaining on their schedule will be awarded wins. The team executive plans to meet in the off-season to discuss a potential return to the league next year. Fort St. John, meanwhile, has been disqualified from playoffs by league brass for the second straight year after deciding to enter the upcoming Allan Cup playoffs.