Soo Eagles v. Keystone Ice Miners
They finished a single point apart during the 2014-2015 North American Hockey League regular season.
And now, the Keystone Ice Miners and Soo Eagles will face off in a first-round, best-of-five, NAHL North Division playoff series.
Games 1 and 2 are slated for Keystone this Friday and Saturday.
Game 3 and if necessary, Game 4, are scheduled for Pullar Stadium in the Michigan Soo on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18.
If a Game 5 is needed, it will be back in Keystone on Monday, April 20.
With 67 points from a record of 31-24-5, Keystone finished in second place during the regular season, just ahead of the Soo, which produced 66 points from a 31-25-4 mark.
The two teams split eight regular-season games and both won in the other’s building.
While somewhat disappointed at dropping out of second place into third on the final weekend of the regular season, Eagles coach-general manager Bruno Bragagnolo has no issues with opening the playoffs on the road.
“We are a pretty-good road team,” Bragagnolo said evenly. “And we have played well at Keystone. Home-ice advantage is nice but I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.”
Eagles captain Matt Menta, a speedy forward who had 9 goals, 14 assists, 23 points during the regular season, agreed.
“It’s a bigger ice surface in Keystone than we have in the Soo and we have used our speed to an advantage there. We like playing there,” said Menta.
Menta said that while the Eagles are confident in their ability to beat Keystone, they are taking nothing away from the Ice Miners.
“Keystone is a good team,” said Menta. “They have two good goalies and a lot of good players.”
Another veteran Eagles forward, 18-goal scorer Brad Pung, said beginning the series on the road may actually be a good thing for his team.
“It puts pressure on them right away, opening at home,” Pung said of Keystone. “It gives us the opportunity to go in there and take home-ice advantage away from them. We have a lot of speed on our team and Keystone has a big ice surface that suits our style.”
As is often the case in a playoff series, goaltending could well decide the outcome. And both teams have two good goalies.
The Eagles have third-year veteran Chad Catt and rookie Jack Berry between the pipes while Keystone can counter with either Alex Blankenburg or Nick Kossoff, who is a recruit of the Division 1, Lake Superior State University Lakers.
The Eagles have two key players whose status is in question for the series because of injuries.
They are 16-goal scorer Keegan Miller and hard-nosed defencemen Michael Caruso.
As for Keystone, Ice Miners coach-general manager Michael Gershon has even thoughts heading into the series.
“This is going to be a close series, our regular season was close, there was no real home-ice advantage,” noted Gershon. “One team (Soo) scores a lot of goals and the other team (Keystone) lets in very few goals. This is what playoffs are all about. The team that executes the best is going to win the series.”
Randy any truth that the Soo Eagles are relocating?
Once the Eagles season ends I wouldn’t be surprised there would be a major announcement.
Fanman, you think? Where ya been?
I understand there was talk about relocating. In Jr hockey you roll the dice year to year because of money. This could happen. Whats your call Randy ?
Any word on the Keystone Ice Miners? It would be a shame to see these guys get moved again. They are just getting the fan base that they need. It was a tough go getting them recognized. The arena definately needs some upgrades but the guys should not have to suffer. GO MINERS!! We love you