SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Soo Eagles rode the strength of a three-goal first period to help lift them to a 6-1 victory over the Rayside-Balfour Canadians Wednesday evening in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Pullar Stadium.
Nate Harris staked Sault Ste. Marie to the lead 5:19 into the contest as Nate Harris finished off the work of Alex DiBacco and Roman Gaudet, who earned assists on the play.
Bradley Hofelich put the Eagles up 2-0 midway through the opening stanza before DiBacco extended the cushion for the home side with 36 seconds left in the frame.
It was more Eagles in the middle session as Harris knocked in his second of the night and eighth of the season at 5:23 to make it 4-0.
Chris Skinner then added one of his own for the Soo 10 minutes later to put the hosts in control.
Rayside-Balfour managed to get one back before the period was complete as MacKenzie MacMillan notched his first of the campaign during a Canadians power play at 18:33.
In the third, the Eagles put the game away with the final marker of the night coming off the stick of Jake Saxton 1:30 in to round out the scoring.
Roman Gaudet, Chris Hazen and Sasha Miniouchine each chipped in with two assists apiece to aid the offensive cause for the winners.
Jack Hickey made 38 saves to pick up the win for the Eagles while Jessie Morin faced 37 shots in defeat for the Canadians.
With the result, Sault Ste. Marie improved to 6-9-0-1 on the season while Rayside-Balfour slipped to 8-7-0-0.
