Photos: Caleigh Fera – Points North Media
SUDBURY, Ont. – Breaking open a one-goal game with four unanswered markers, the Soo Eagles went on to dump the Hearst Lumberjacks 8-3 Wednesday to commence Day 2 of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Showcase, presented by the Dairy Farmers of Ontario, at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
Converting on the initial power play of the contest, Hearst’s Cole Shepherdson took a Theo Bourdon-Lemoyne feed from the corner and while spinning whipped it upstairs, short side, past the blocker of Sault Ste. Marie starter Jace Knoerle 3:33 in.
Pulling even five minutes later, Logan Stawizynski put the Eagles on the board as he drove down the right wing then powered his way to he net with purpose where he roofed a backhand over the shoulder of Lumberjacks’ goalkeeper Owen Bonthuis.
Hearst regained the lead early in the middle stanza, thanks to Sam Taylor lifting in a loose puck during a goal-mouth scramble with players battling in front.
More from Stawizynski saw him tie it once more as he ripped a rocket past Bonthuis.
Some persistence while down a skater helped the Soo generate multiple chances before finally being rewarded by Ethan Hoff, who was left alone to bury his fifth marker of the season.
Continuing to trade tallies, the clubs banged in two more in a 37-second span to make it 4-3 Eagles with nearly half a game to play.
After C.J. Zaharias got another for the Soo at 10:30 by picking the left corner on Bonthuis from the slot, Dylan Garvin matched that for the Lumberjacks on the next shift as he wheeled out of the corner into the left circle and wired one upstairs.
The Zaharias effort saw Hearst make a change in net with Alexandre Boivin entering in relief.
Another in the session saw the Soo convert on a man advantage to make it 5-3 for them when Anden Marceau popped in his NOJHL-leading 12th of the season by taking the puck wide to the left before tucking it past the outstretched pad of Boivin.
Extending their edge early in the final frame, the Eagles’ Carter Huckson fired one through traffic from distance.
Capping off the one-sided result, a Gabriel Clark pass on a two-on-one to Brendan Boberg left him with plenty of space to score before Marceau picked up his 13th overall by knocking one in along the goal line to round out the scoring.
Picking up player of the game recognition were Marceau and the Lumberjacks’ Mathieu Comeau.
