The Eagles faced off against a talented hometown Sault High Blue Devil team on Saturday evening. The teams traded shots early with no goals until Lakeland’s power play unit made good on their chance. Sophomore Ryan Danielson out-muscled two Blue Devil defenders to gain the zone with puck possession. Danielson dropped the puck off to freshman forward Austin Scanlon who, after calmly surveying his options, gave the puck to senior Tim Hinkle for a quick shot from the point tipped in by junior Brennan Grant. The Soo got their own PP goal late in the period. 1-1 after 1.

In the second period Scanlon (assists to Luke Weinberger, Grant) shoveled in a PP rebound for his second point of the night to put the Eagles back on top. The Devil’s tied the game up in the third period setting up a nail biting finish. With six and change to go Weinberger found himself alone driving for the net and forced the Soo goalie to make an awkward save. Luke continued his pressure up the far boards when Timmy Hinkle swooped in and stole the puck from three Sault High defenders. Hinkle drew in the remaining Devils and deftly dropped the puck off to Weinberger. Luke delivered a Berger-time special to the Soo goalie who ended up on his back as Luke went to his backhand for the game winning goal.

Junior goalie Paul Baker was stalwart in the pipes as he stone walled 26 of 28 shots.

Coach Ronayne: “Playing Sault High is an early measuring stick for our season. If we do well against them then we expect to do well back home. Baker was outstanding and outplayed their tender. The defense corps did what we asked of them. Our PP and PK did their job allowing us to use our depth during even strength play. Everyone contributed – a solid team win against a very good team.”

The Eagles are off until December when they travel to the big ice at DSC to face Bloomfield High.

News article:  https://www.misportsnow.com/2022/11/lakeland-takes-close-victory-3-2-over-sault-ste-marie/?fbclid=IwAR3f7Ul7M823TDWjAF-cKg6PODXz0Rs-LIoGyBvKMV2T8U9D7SzQEBD0faQ