Roman numerals are back
Seasoned skater Roman Gaudet settled in to pot a pair of timely tallies to lift the Soo Eagles into the main round of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoffs.
The 20-year old Gaudet — who has played in a number of junior leagues and is in his second separate tour with the Eagles — scored the tieing and winning goals as the Eagles overcame 1-0 and 3-1 deficits to upend the visiting Elliot Lake Wildcats 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday in the third-and-deciding game of their preliminary round series.
Gaudet’s second goal — and third point — of the match came at 10:54 of overtime and sent a partisan Pullar Stadium crowd of about 600 fans home happy.
The win puts the Eagles into the second round of the NOJHL playoffs against the cross-border rival Soo Thunderbirds.
A hulking 6-foot-2, 220-pound winger, Gaudet has been a major goal-scoring threat over parts of two seasons with the Eagles.
Regular season and playoffs included in 2015-2016, Gaudet had 23 goals in 35 games for the Eagles.
Regular season and playoffs included thus far in 2016-2017, Gaudet has 10 goals in 14 games for the Eagles.
In Tuesday’s series-clincher over Elliot Lake, the Eagles were full marks for the victory, out-shooting the Wildcats by a 46-36 margin and having the better scoring chances.
Still, the Eagles were flying against the wind and had the lead in the game only once — when Gaudet scored the OT winner.
Before Gaudet went to work, William Casey and Jake Saxton had earlier goals for the Eagles.
Nick Long, Taylor Woolcott and Jacob Kelly scored for the Wildcats, who will make their earliest exit from the playoffs in the three-year history of the franchise.
Kade Phipps made 33 saves in the Soo net.
PHOTO: Roman Gaudet (left) heads up ice for the Soo Eagles in playoff action against the Elliot Lake Wildcats.