SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – After tying it late in regulation, the Soo Eagles delighted their hometown faithful by beating the French River Rapids 3-2 in overtime, at the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Showcase currently underway at Big Bear Arena.
Sault Ste. Marie grabbed a 1-0 lead midway through the opening frame on a Blake Vaca connection.
French River came right back a minute and a half later to knot the affair with Will Frustaglio finding the back of the net.
The Rapids weren’t done there as they took the lead deep into the session as Esa Patton picked up the go ahead marker at 18:04.
Neither side would score again until late in regulation when Caleb Wood tied it with under two minutes to play.
Heading to OT, Wod won it for the Soo with help from Malik Ali and Joel Brandinger to end it.
Eagles goalkeeper Shane Brancato made 33 saves to register the victory while Chase Johnson and Ben Montgomery combo’s 27 stops helped French River pick up a point in the extra time defeat.
