Soo Eagles win 5th straight with triumph over Espanola

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017

Soo Eagles win 5th straight with triumph over Espanola

ESPANOLA, Ont. –  Bradley Hofelich scored three times and assisted on another while Jacob Palmerio supplied a pair of markers to help the Soo Eagles skate to their fifth consecutive Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League victory Sunday as they topped the Espanola Express 9-5 at the Regional Recreation Complex.

The high-scoring affair started with Jason Bednarski striking for the Express just 12 seconds into the contest.

Sault Ste. Marie countered just past the nine-minute mark of the first when Brent Jones scored on the power play while teammate Palmerio made it 2-1 a mere 42 seconds after that.

Bednarski picked up his second of the stanza and ninth overall during a man advantage late in the period to knot it at 2-2.

Action in the middle session saw the Eagles get goals from Palmerio early and Landon Hubbard late to give them the lead entering the final frame.

Heading into the third the session was a flurry of activity as the two clubs combined for eight tallies.

Hofelich notched all three of his efforts in that span connecting once each on the power play, shorthanded and at even strength for the Soo while Jake Cimarusti and Chris Murphy supplied singles.

Riley Smith, Riley Nadeau and Tilot were the Express scorers in the third.

Roman Gaudet had three assists for the Eagles as did Express defenceman Cory Ellerton.

Kade Phipps started for the Soo, but left midway through the first stopping four of five while Jack Deines picked up the win in lengthy relief handling 37 of the 41 shots fired his way.

Mitchell Jacobson and Logan Sawka both saw time in net for Espanola in defeat facing 45 shots along the way.