Eagles Travel to Keystone to Open Playoffs Next Weekend
Published on April 3, 2015 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Soo Eagles News Release
The Soo Eagles will begin their North American Hockey League semifinal on the road, as the first two games of the best-of-five series against the Keystone Ice Miners, will be played on April 10-11, at McMorran Place in Connellsville, Pennsylvania.
You can catch all the action, live or on-demand on www.fasthockey.com.
The series will shift to Pullar Stadium, in Sault Ste. Marie, on Friday, April 17th at 7:30 p.m.
If necessary, Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th at 7:00 p.m. at the Pullar, and Game 5 on Monday, April 20 at Keystone.
The Ice Miners secured home-ice advantage last weekend, sweeping the Johnstown Tomahawks, while the Eagles secured only two of the three points they needed to capture second place in the North, falling in a pair or shootouts to the Michigan Warriors.
Michigan take on the first place Janesville Jets in the other North Division semifinal. The Jets set a North American Hockey League record this season, capturing 100 points overall.
The Ice Miners won the season series over the Soo Eagles, going 4-3-1. Home ice wasn't much of the advantage, as the home teams won two of the eight contests between the squads.
The Eagles are led in scoring by Trevor Cope, who had 24 goals and 30 assists during the regular season. Sandis Zolmanis had 13 goals 38 assists, while Mitch Vanderberg was (18-23- 41).
The Ice Miners are led in scoring by Matt Jones, who had 17 goals and 24 assists during the regular season. Taylor Fernandez had 13 goals and 26 assists, while Jacob Coleman was (5-25- 30).
Chad Catt was 7-4-0-3 for the Soo Eagles in the regular season, with a goals against average of 2.25 and a save percentage of .920. Jack Berry was 14-10-0-1, with a goals against average of 2.87 and a save percentage of .908.
Alex Blankenburg was 17-14-0-3 for the Keystone Ice Miners in the regular season, with a goals against average of 2.18 and a save percentage of .932. Nick Kossoff was 14-10-0-2, with a goals against average of 2.21 and a save percentage of .931.
Eagles fall twice in shootouts to the Warriors
Michigan Warriors 2, Soo Eagles 1 (SO) - Saturday, March 28, 2015
The never-say-die Michigan Warriors pulled out an improbable sweep of the Eagles and put themselves into the NAHL playoffs on the final day, needing a win and a Johnstown loss, which they got. The Warriors earned the #4 seed in the North, while the Eagles are the #3 seed. Chase Munroe was again the hero for Michigan, making 31 saves and stopping all five Soo shooters in the shootout. Garrison Sanipass had the lone goal in regulation for Michigan and Cam Jorgensen had the lone shootout goal. Denver Pierce scored the lone goal for the Eagles.
Michigan Warriors 4, Soo Eagles 3 (SO) - Friday, March 27, 2015
The Michigan Warriors kept their playoff hopes alive with a 4-3 shootout road win in the Soo. It was the Eagles who jumped out to a 3-0 lead, with 1st period goals from Bruno Birzitis and Trevor Cope. Brad Pung added a 2nd period goal to make it 3-0. Michigan didn't give up and mounted a furious comeback with goals from Dalton Skelly, Alex Berardinelli and Ryan Sete. In the shootout, Tyler Groat scored the only goal of any of the 10 shooters. Chase Munroe made 44 saves in the win.
North American Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2015
- Behind 8 Goals, Bruins Take Game 1 - Austin Bruins
- IceRays Drop Game One 3-2 in Overtime to the Wild - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Wildcats Best Bees, Advance to Division Semifinals - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Hammer Scores a Hat-Trick, But Wings Lose 8-5 - Aberdeen Wings
- Playoff Tickets Go on Sale - Topeka Pilots
- NAHL Announces Monthly Player Awards for March - NAHL
- Eagles Travel to Keystone to Open Playoffs Next Weekend - Soo Eagles
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