Photos: Justin Cairns
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Riding the strength of a Lucas Caulfield hat trick, the Soo Eagles went on to handle the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 7-1 Saturday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Pullar Stadium.
Taking flight on the night’s initial power play, the Eagles’ Anden Marceau notched his first NOJHL goal by stuffing in a rebound off a Benjamin Pouliot point attempt.
Sault Ste. Marie then went ahead by two late in the opening period when Caulfield took an Alex Povorozniouk pass and pumped it in from the high slot past a screened Matis Bureau-Morel, who was making his Gold Miners debut.
In the middle stanza, Caulfield clicked again as he snagged a loose puck at the top of the crease, spun and slid it in during a man advantage.
The Soo kept coming and went up by four as Caulfield hit his hat trick by powering in and sending a high short side shot over the blocker of Bureau-Morel.
Not done there, Carson Doxsey pressured a turnover and darted in alone and neatly picked the bottom left corner at 16:16.
In the third, Kirkland Lake eventually solved Soo starter Gaetano Piccione five minutes in off a draw that led to Aaron Leenaars eventually jamming one in while battling in front.
Securing the home ice triumph in the latter stages of the affair, the Soo’s James Cullison collected his first NOJHL tally as he drilled in a one-timer.
The Eagles then wrapped up the result when Owen Wreggitt fired one in from the left point for his initial league tally, just before time expired.
