Soo Eagles renew their cross-border rivalry against the Thunderbirds

The Soo Eagles are back in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, and their cross-border rivalry will be renewed this weekend, as they open the 2015-16 regular season, with a pair of games against the Soo Thunderbirds.

The Eagles open play on Friday night at the Essar Centre in Soo, Ontario, Friday night at 7:30 p.m., before returning home to the friendly confines of Pullar Stadium, for Saturday’s game at 7:00 p.m.

If you can’t make the games, you can catch the action on www.fasthockey.com.

After two seasons in the North American Hockey League, the Soo Eagles will be part of the now 12-team league, and face their rivals from Soo, Ontario, 12 times this season, including seven at Pullar Stadium.

This will be the first regular season meeting between these two squads, since February 18, 2012, where the Thunderbirds earned a 6-5 victory. The Eagles franchise has a 40-30-4-5 record over the Thunderbirds, dating back to their inaugural 2003-04 season as the Northern Michigan Black Bears.

In other NOJHL action this weekend, Rayside-Balfour/Espanola, Iroquois Falls/Cochrane, and Kirkland Lake/Timmins will play home-and-home series. Blind River will travel to Elliot Lake on Friday night, while French River will host Powassan. On Saturday, French River will be at Blind River, while Powassan hosts Elliot Lake.

For up to date scores, stats, transactions, and team information, go to the new and improved website, www.nojhl.com.

The Eagles will be at home next weekend, when they host the Blind River Beavers on Friday night at 7:30 p.m., and the Timmins Rock on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

The Eagles will have 27 homes games this season and special events throughout. There will be a pair of “Fan Appreciation Night’s” on October 28^th and January 20^th, against Rayside-Balfour. Pink in the Rink weekend is October 9-10, when the Eagles take on Blind River and Cochrane. Mascot Night will be on January 23^rd, when they Eagles take on the Soo Thunderbirds. Military Weekend is February 26-27, when the Eagles take on Blind River and Espanola. Parent’s Night will be held on February 27^th and Sponsor Night on March 4^th, when the Eagles face the Soo Thunderbirds.