Eagles Look to Secure Second Place, Host Michigan to End Regular Season
March 27, 2015 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Soo Eagles News Release
The Soo Eagles will play the Keystone Ice Miners in the first round of the North Division playoffs, but home ice is still undecided, as the Eagles end the regular season with a pair of games against the Michigan Warriors, Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday at 7 p.m., at Pullar Stadium.
If you can't make it to the Pullar, you can catch all the action, live or on-demand, on fasthockey.com.
The highly popular "Student of the Month" returns on Saturday, honoring high achieving students in area elementary school classrooms. Also on Saturday, the Soo Eagles will be honoring their six '94 birth year players: Sandis Zolmanis, Trevor Cope, Chase Mattson, Brad Pung, Matt Menta and Chad Catt, for their hard work and dedication to the organization.
The Eagles secured at least third place, with their Sunday victory over the Johnstown Tomahawks, and control their own destiny for second place, and home ice in the first round, needing three points this weekend. The Eagles are currently one point ahead of the Keystone Ice Miners, who play a home-and-home series with Johnstown this weekend.
If the Eagles and Ice Miners finished tied in the standings, the Eagles would win the tiebreaker based on more regulation wins. The first round of the playoffs will likely start on Friday, April 3rd. We will have the full schedule in next week's newsletter.
Michigan isn't out of the playoff hunt, but will need a sweep of the Eagles this weekend, and for Johnstown to lose both their weekend games in regulation. The Warriors are currently three points behind the Tomahawks, for the final playoff position, and the first round matchup with league leaders, the Janesville Jets.
If Michigan gets four points this weekend, and Johnstown gets one, and the teams finish in a tie, Michigan would hold the tiebreaker based on head-to-head meetings. Springfield has been eliminated from playoff contention. The other North Division series sees Janesville travel to Springfield for a pair of games.
The Eagles have had their way against the Michigan Warriors this season, holding a 9-1 advantage in the season series, victorious in seven straight. Seven of the contests between these two teams have been decided by one goal, including two in overtime and three in a shootout.
The Eagles are led in scoring by Trevor Cope, who has 23 goals and 30 assists this season. Sandis Zolmanis has 13 goals 36 assists, while Mitch Vanderberg is (18-23- 41).
The Warriors are led in scoring by Tyler Groat, who has 21 goals and 20 assists this season. Mitch Wedding has 8 goals and 24 assists, while Alex Berardinelli is (14-15- 29).
Chad Catt is 7-4-0-1 for the Soo Eagles, with a goals against average of 2.32 and a save percentage of .917. Jack Berry is 14-10-0-1, with a goals against average of 2.87 and a save percentage of .908.
Ryan Wischow is 15-13-2-1 for the Michigan Warriors, with a goals against average of 2.74 and a save percentage of .918. Chase Munroe is 2-3-0-0, with a goals against average of 3.17 and a save percentage of .901.
Soo Eagle's Trevor Cope has 4 goals, 15 assists and is a +10 in 10 games against the Warriors this season, while Sandis Zolmanis has netted seven goals and seven assists, in 10 contests against Michigan.
Former Soo Eagle, AJ Marcinek has five goals and four assists in 10 games against the Eagles this season.
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