Butcher sets up 3 as Eagles knock off Express

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Mikey Butcher set-up a trio of Soo Eagles tallies for his third three-assist night of this career to help power the Soo Eagles past the Espanola Express 7-1 Saturday evening in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Pullar Stadium.

Kyle Quinn’s 10th of the year put the Eagles in flight 8:45 into the contest as the home side took and early lead.

It was more Sault Ste. Marie five minutes later with Lucas Rothe supplying his second to make it 2-0 before a late power play saw Nathan Solis add another as the Eagles went up by three.

The success continued for the Soo three minutes into the middle frame as Charley Hanewall scored for a fourth straight game to make it 4-0 while also running a point streak to six.

Moving on to the final frame, Raf Praysner added to the Soo cushion early on before Matthew Reynolds’ sixth put Espanola on the board with just over 11 minutes remaining in regulation.

However, the Eagles countered with late man advantage efforts from Owen Shier and Jack Strauss, who picked up his first NOJHL goal, to cap off the one-sided decision.

Quinn had a pair of helpers to join Butcher with three-point nights for the Soo.

The Eagles held a big edge in shots on goal by a 66-18 count with Joseph Bendetto picking up the win while Andrew Rocha of the Express finished with 59 stops in defeat.