Soo Eagles home for three this week
Soo Eagles take a record of 10-8, good for 20 points, into a three-game home set with the visiting Springfield Jr. Blues this week.
Games are slated for Thursday (7:00), Friday (7:30) and Saturday (7:00) evenings at Pullar Stadium in the Michigan Soo.
Just nine points separate the six teams in the North Division of the North American Hockey League.
Janesville Jets lead the pack with 21 points, just one more than the second-place Eagles of the Soo.
Springfield, which heads to the Soo for the three games this week, is last in the North with 12 points from a record of 6-9 but is on a two-game winning streak.
“There are no easy games in our division,” Eagles coach-general manager Bruno Bragagnolo is fond of saying.
“Every game is a battle,” according to Eagles rugged defenceman Pat Gazzillo, a third-year junior who recently returned to the Soo and the NAHL from the United States Hockey League.
Gazzillo has played in 8 games for the Eagles since his return from the USHL and has 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points and a plus-minus rating of +5.
The Eagles await Springfield following a weekend split with the visiting Johnstown Tomahawks.
After losing the series opener, the Eagles rebounded to take the nightcap.
Sandis Zolmanis continues to lead the Eagles in scoring with 6 goals, 13 assists, 19 points followed by Bruno Birzitis at 5-11-16 and Chase Matson with 8-7-15 totals.
Eagles goalie Sean Keating has won his last three decision to improve his record to 5-5 with a 2.54 goals-against-average and .907 save percentage.
FAMILY VALUE NIGHT
The Eagles have dubbed Thursday’s game against Springfield as “Family Value Night.”
Adult tickets for Thursday’s game will be reduced to $5 while seniors and children will be admitted for just $4.
At the concession stand, meanwhile, there will be $1 hot dogs, $1 popcorn and $1 sodas.
SOO EAGLES HOCKEY SHOW
Guests tonight on the Soo Eagles Hockey Show, which airs Tuesdays from 5-6 p.m. on radio station ESPN 1400, will be second-year defenceman Michael Caruso and rookie forward Raymond Brice.
PHOTO: Soo Eagles defenceman Pat Gazzillo.