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IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – After trailing 4-1 halfway through the contest, the Iroquois Falls Storm surged back in rallying to upend the Soo Eagles 5-4 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League get together Saturday at Jus Jordan Arena.
Converting on an early man advantage, the Eagles worked the play around nicely before Logan Stawizynski whipped a shot from the left circle that was redirected in by Anden Marceau past Storm netminder Alex Hall at 1:39.
Another extra-man effort just over five minutes later helped Sault Ste. Marie go up by a pair with Stawizynski picking up another assist as he put a pass in front from behind the goal line that Lucas Caulfield swatted in.
Cutting into the deficit at 12:32, the home side’s Alex Bedic corralled a loose puck in the neutral zone and wheeled into the Soo end where he made a nice move to his left and propelled a rising backhand over the shoulder of goalkeeper Jenson Rousseau for his initial NOJHL tally in impressive fashion.
A third special teams’ effort by the Eagles early in the middle stanza saw them go back up by two via a power play marker off the stick of Stawizynski as he picked up his first league goal by cranking in a one-timer after being teed up by Carter Huckson.
An even strength effort courtesy of Brendan Boberg made it 4-1 for the Soo at 4:51 that saw him stuff in his first while battling in front.
Connecting on the power play, Ben Coupal banged a Bruce Grey point shot that caromed out off the end wall right to the Iroquois Falls forward.
Coupal then bagged another with the Storm up a skater once more at 15:47 as he converted from a similar spot from another Grey attempt.
Moving to the third period, Iroquois Falls kept coming and were rewarded with the equalizer at 10:34 when a fortuitous bounce off the end boards off a Grey point attempt bounced right in front to an open Alexandre St. Pierre who spun and snapped in the tying tally.
Completing the comeback, St. Pierre wired in the game-winner after collecting a bouncing puck in the slot that he buried into the left corner with 6:17 remaining.
The Eagles did get their goalkeeper out for an extra attacker in the late going to try and tie it, but despite one final chance that sailed just wide, the Storm skated away with the comeback victory.
Both clubs are back at it Sunday as the Soo visits Timmins in a 1 p.m. start while Iroquois Falls hosts Blind River at 2 p.m.
