SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – A couple of Harmon Esch goals, one of which was the eventual game-winner, helped send the Soo Eagles over the French River Rapids 7-4 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League matchup Saturday at Pullar Stadium.
A strong early forecheck off a draw in the Rapids’ zone got the Eagles going offensively just 78 seconds into the contest when Jacob Kelley put a pass into the slot that Nathaniel Kohler collected and ripped past netminder William Popik.
Notching another, Sault Ste. Marie’s Bradyn Walsh snapped in a loose puck off a play put to the net by Gabriel Clark.
French River got one back when Leif Sigfusson clicked on a man advantage opportunity that he put past Eagles’ starter Daryn Szabo with a tip in off a Kaddes Katapatuk point shot.
Converting off a cycle play in the middle frame, Brendan Boberg made it 3-1 for the home side, only to see Sigfusson notch his second of the evening at 8:42 when he wheeled out to the high slot from down low and sent a sizzler high over the blocker of Szabo.
The Eagles went back up by a pair midway through the night compliments of Carter Huckson, who pumped in a shot from the left side after being set-up by Colton Huckson.
Then on a power play, Sigfusson slammed in his third in the game and 10th overall at 11:51 as he snagged a lose puck off a goal-mouth scramble and popped it in.
Continuing to trade tallies, Esch made it 5-3 Soo in the waning moments of the second as he took an Anthony Mayes pass and ripped it upstairs.
In the third, the Eagles got some insurance with under five minutes to play when Esch got the last touch in close for his second of the contest.
Jacob Kelley on the power play then helped wrap-up the home-ice victory, prior to the Rapids’ Félix-Antoine Huard notching his first in the NOJHL, before time expired, to round out the result.
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