IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – Coming back from an early three-goal deficit, the Soo Eagles responded to earn a 3-3 overtime tie with the Iroquois Falls Storm in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League get together Saturday at Jus Jordan Arena.
Striking first in the contest, Owen Goodwin of the Storm fired a feed from the corner to Avery Wease between the circles where he quickly ripped a shot by Eagles’ netminder Jace Knoerle, seven minutes in.
From there, Iroquois Falls went up by a pair at 14:52 as Mathieu Ouellette drove hard to the net, and after being initially stopped, shoveled in his own rebound to give him goals in three straight games.
The hosts then took a 3-0 lead into the intermission when Alexandre St. Pierre swatted in a loose puck off a spinning Michael Karadinovic chance from the slot.
With Dalton Hoornstra entering in relief to begin the middle stanza, Sault Ste. Marie came out strong and got to within one with a pair of early markers.
Carter Hukson put the Soo on the board at 2:43 as he moved past a defender and ripped a shot from the right wing past Michael Tamburro, who was making his NOJHL debut in net for the Storm.
Nolan Nemecek then made it 3-2 a couple of shifts later by wheeling to the high slot and lifting in his chance through traffic for his 14th of the campaign.
Heading to the third in the one-goal game, the Eagles tied it at 5:42 thanks to Logan Stawizynski, who converted from the top of the crease, off a Gabriel Clark point shot, and slid in the equalizer to help force extra time.
In a quick-moving seven-minute OT, very few whistles and chances at either end resulted in the draw as each team skated away with a point in the standings.
The outcome sees the Soo’s record go to 10-18-1-1, while Iroquois Falls went to 9-18-1-2.
Both teams are back at it Sunday afternoon as the Eagles visit the red-hot Timmins Rock at 1 p.m. and the Storm host the Blind River Beavers in a 3 p.m. start, with both match-ups being broadcast on FLOHockey.tv.
