SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Soo Eagles saw Brice French tally twice and dish out two assists as part of an 8-2 win over the Elliot Lake Wildcats in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League get together Friday at Pullar Stadium.
Picking up the evening’s initial man advantage opportunity, Sault Ste. Marie scored just over six minutes into the proceedings that featured French finding the back of the net for his seventh tally of the year.
Elliot Lake answered with a power play effort of their own moments later that saw Robert Maulucci collect his fifth overall at 6:37.
Two minutes later, the Wildcats went in front on a Jonathan Giancotti effort, however the Eagles countered late in the session on a Hayden Clark goal to knot the affair at 2-2.
The Soo then went in front on the initial shift of the second that saw Eric Vanderhoff pick up his 27th tally of the season.
Striking quickly once again, Dominic Skrelja buried his 25th of the season at 2:39 as the hosts broke it open
Getting another moments later, the Eagles opened a two-goal cushion as Joel Brandinger connected to give him points in five straight games.
Bobby Price then capped off a four-goal outburst for the Soo in the stanza as they took a 6-2 cushion into the second intermission.
The Eagles then finished off the home ice triumph with third period markers from Skrelja and French to wrap things offensively.
Jake Lamberty chipped in with three assists for the hosts in the decision.
Ryan Gilmore played the first two periods in net for Soo and got the win stopping 16 of 18 while Shane Brancato had nine saves in spotless relief.
Elliot Lake netminder Noah Granata saw 46 attempts fired his way in defeat.
