Eagles have eyes on second spot

By Randy Russon
January 22, 2015
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First place may be out of reach for the Soo Eagles but finishing second will mean home-ice advantage come playoff time.

To be sure, with 21 games to play in the regular season, finishing second in the North Division of the North American Hockey League is the goal for the Eagles.

Heading into a road game against the Michigan Warriors on Friday, the Eagles are tied with the Keystone Ice Miners for second spot in the North Division with 41 points apiece, 20 points back of the first-place Janesville Jets.

Forward Mitch Vanderburg, who is second on the Eagles in scoring with 17 goals, 16 assists, 33 points in 33 games, knows the Soo needs every win it can get heading into the stretch run of the 2014-2015 campaign.

“We can’t afford to let up,” said Vanderburg, a skilled speedster who plays the game with an edge. “We aren’t very far ahead of the teams that are behind us.”

Indeed, just behind the Soo and Keystone in the North Division standings are the three other clubs in the six-team North — Springfield Jr. Blues and Johnstown Tomahawks have 36 points apiece and Michigan has 34.

Four teams will make the playoffs in the North and at this stage of the season, just seven points separate second place from sixth.

“Every game is like a playoff game now,” said Eagles coach-general manager Bruno Bragagnolo. “At the end of the season, two pretty-good teams in our division are going to miss the playoffs.”

“Right now we are tied for second place and right now I would say that finishing second is a goal for our team,” said Eagles associate coach Alex Sawruk. “Finishing second would give us home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs and that is something to aim for.”

Next home games for the Eagles are Friday, January 30 (7:30) and Saturday, January 31 (7:00) when they play host to first-place Janesville at Pullar Stadium.