SUDBURY, Ont. – The Soo Eagles continued their winning ways at the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Showcase Wednesday after skating to a 4-3 victory over the Hearst Lumberjacks Wednesday at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury.
Special teams allowed Sault Ste. Marie to get the early jump in the contest as Kobe Kellar and Brendan Blair connected on the power play just over two minutes apart midway through the first period.
Second period play saw Hearst counter with a couple of quick tallies of their own, a minute and a half apart, as Jacy Fillion at even strength as well as Shadow Reuben during a man advantage levelled the proceedings at 2-2.
However the Eagles came right back 19 seconds after the Lumberjacks tied it thanks to Jonathan Lakhani’s first NOJHL goal.
Hearst did tie things up again before the period was complete as Samuel Bourdages connected at 17:12.
However Jake Saxton supplied the game-winner, with a shorthanded effort 4:27 into the third period, from Jacob Palmerio in what turned out to be the final goal of the contest.
Shots on goal favoured the Lumberjacks 33-27 with Shane Brancato picking up the win with Nicholas Dube suffering the loss.
Earning CCM Hockey player of the game laurels went to Palmerio of the Eagles and Vasily Gogolev for Hearst.
