Photos: Northern Exposures Photography
ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – Breaking open a one-goal game with the trio of second period tallies, the Soo Eagles went on to defeat the Elliot Lake Red Wings 4-1 Saturday night in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League get together at Centennial Arena.
The visiting Eagles took flight four minutes into the proceedings after Alex Freund banged in a loose puck off a rebound after an attempt from the right point that Red Wings’ starter Cameron Smith could not control.
They missed another chance to make it 2-0 after Chase Tallaire was foiled on a penalty shot.
Going up by a pair early in the middle frame though, Sault Ste. Marie’s Hunter Friesen unleashed a high blast from just inside the Elliot Lake blueline that rang off the shoulder of Smith, which he could not locate, and had the puck land behind him before bouncing into the net.
The Eagles then made it 3-0 a couple of shifts later after winning a faceoff back to Michael Stec, whose wrister from the point, was deflected in by Zachary Briskey parked in front.
A fourth Soo strike before the second intermission saw their captain Jack Mortson bust down the right wing and drive to the net where he stuffed his chance past Smith for his team-leading 24th tally of the season.
Getting on the board two and a half minutes into the third, Noah Aboflan went into the Eagles zone and from the left wing, beat netminder Kameron Ragon from a sharp angle for his sixth league tally in 2022-23.
That would be it however offensively as the Soo skated away with the victory, while improving to 19-20-4-1 on the season.
With the loss, the Red Wings slipped to 13-29-1-2 overall.
“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel
