NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Oct. 7, 2016
Hofelich, Murphy lead Eagles over Beavers
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Bradley Hofelich tallied twice while teammate Chris Murphy dished out three assists to help lead the Soo Eagles to a 5-3 triumph over the Blind River Beavers Friday night in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Pullar Stadium in front of 677 fans.
Special teams put the Eagles in flight in the first period as Hofelich and Tait Aptakin connected on the power play just over a minute apart to put them up a pair.
Another by Hofelich while his side was up a man made it 3-0 early in the middle session while Rhett Rampinelli added one at even strength to put the home side up by four at 3:47.
Blind River’s Caleb Serre got the visitors on the board at 12:07 of the session to make it 4-1 after two.
The Beavers kept coming to begin the third getting goals 45 seconds apart to pull within one on efforts supplied by Serre and Noah Medalsy.
The Beavers pulled netminder Myles Hektor late in an effort to force overtime, but Sault Ste. Marie’s Landon Hubbard iced it with an empty netter in the final minute to secure the win.
Jack Deines made 23 saves to record the decision for the Eagles.
Wes Werner started for Blind River and suffered the loss stopping 17 of 21 while Hektor handled all nine attempts he faced in relief.