NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Dec. 16, 2016
Eagles rally to knock off Express
ESPANOLA, Ont. – The Soo Eagles stormed back from a two-goal, third-period deficit by scoring four unanswered markers in the final frame to knock off the Espanola Express 6-4 Friday night in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter at the Regional Recreation Complex.
Each side would get a goal each in the opening 20 minutes with Nate Harris putting the Eagles on the board at 4:38 before Alex Friend tied it for the Express two and a half minutes later with his first NOJHL tally.
Espanola tacked on two more in the middle stanza thanks to Isaac Tkachuk and Cameron Anklewich.
William Nichol’s first brought Sault Ste. Marie back to within one at 17:25.
However the Express came right back 12 seconds later to go up 4-2 as Anklewich added his second of the game and eighth overall.
That quick goal saw the Eagles opt to replace starter Kade Phipps in favour of Justyn Gillis, who would go the rest of the way for the Soo.
The visitors started their comeback in the first minute of the third thanks to Bradley Hofelich.
Matt Meininger then tied it for the Soo at 7:12 before Chris Murphy notched the game-winner with 3:39 left in regulation.
The Eagles’ Hofelich then finished off the comeback victory by putting one into an empty net with 18 seconds to go for his second of the night and 17th on the year.
Gillis stopped all 16 shots he faced in relief to post the win for the Soo while Phipps allowed four on 35 attempts.
Taylor Unruh made 29 saves in defeat for Espanola.
