Eagles can fly higher
They have clinched fourth place and they will finish the regular season with a record above the .500 mark. And with seven games to play on the slate, Soo Eagles still have a chance to move up in the standings in the West Division of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
The Eagles have a record of 29-19-1, good for 59 points in 49 games.
Rayside-Balfour Canadians lead the West with 70 points from 50 games. Soo Thunderbirds are second with 67 points from 49 games. And Blind River Beavers round out the top three with 66 points from 51 games.
The Eagles play host to Rayside-Balfour in a key contest tonight at 7:30 at Pullar Stadium in the Michigan Soo.
Eagles general manager Bruno Bragagnolo is of the notion that the Michiganders will have to win five of their remaining seven games to have a shot at moving up in the standings.
Bragagnolo, appearing on the most recent edition of the Hockey North Show, which airs on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. on Sault Ste. Marie radio station ESPN 1400, said the Eagles figure to benefit from the imminent return of injured forward Kobe Keller, who has 20 goals, 30 assists, 50 points in 40 games.