Catt carries Eagles to series sweep
The cool Catt flexed his claws once again.
Backed by the scintillating goaltending of Chad Catt, the Soo Eagles upended the visiting Keystone Ice Miners 3-1 on Friday to sweep the first-round, best-of-five, North American Hockey League, North Division playoff series.
With scouts from several Division 1, National Collegiate Athletic Association schools among the crowd of 995 who took in the game at Pullar Stadium, Catt made 38 saves — many of them spectacular — and the Eagles got goals from Keegan Miller, Leo Lumm and Trevor Cope to sideline Keystone and advance to the North Division finals against the powerhouse Janesville Jets.
For the three-game series, the 21-year old Catt — who was acquired by the Eagles from the Aberdeen Wings at the February 6 trade deadline — stopped 104 of 106 shots for a .981 save percentage and 0.65 goals against average.
In Friday’s series-clincher, veteran forwards Chase Matson and Matt Menta had two assists apiece and were relentless on the forecheck as were Denver Pierce and rookie Raymond Brice.
On the blueline, 1997 birth-year rookie Dan Weaver was a standout in front of Catt and fellow defenders Michael Caruso and Patrik Koch also turned in steady outings.
Up next for the Eagles is a date with aforementioned Janesville, which finished first overall in the 24-team NAHL with 100 regular-season points — 34 more than the Soo.
I wonder how the other two rookies would do if they got any ice time…oh well I guess we will just have to win with three lines, I hope they can last three periods against Janesville.
Ted: You get what you deserve…and from what I have seen of the other rookie forwards Gauthier and Gammelin they dont even deserve to be in uniform let alone getting any ice time IMHO.
I have watched just about every Soo Eagles home game and I think Gamelin, and Gauthier are the worst two forwards they have. There compete level is terrible, they have a hard time comming out of the corners with the puck, and when the game gets physical they are scared.I feel they should have played on the AAA Soo Indians for a year then played for the Soo Eagles.I hope they are not planning on going to LSSU next season to play hockey, because they are not ready,and dont be suprised if Lakers decommit to them like they have to 2-3 other players. IN MY OPINION.
all this from three 30 second shifts a game tweety?…..maybe you should be a scout if your hockey insight is so spot on?
and no Will is not going to LSSU next year…..but he won’t be in this hack league either
You too Tweetybird, nice…..thanks for all those inspirational words of wisdom. Way to bash two rookie hockey players……well done on your part I have to say. All that bashing because a comment was made about ice time…wow.
wow!!! AE…I wasn’t dissin the other rookies…Miller and Ray are very good players and good guys off the ice too.
It’s just little frustrating going from three years as D3 first team all-state forward to watching every game from the bench and getting three mins. of icetime a game when they do play. How do you DESERVE to play anyway?
Thank you American Eagle, you just showed your true colors. Nice to bash two hockey players in a comment section and refer to them by name. Well done!! Oh I don’t take you for a mean person at all.
Ted-You must not be watching same game as I am. Gamelin & Gauthier have played over 40 games this year and get 3 shifts a period and thats right for 4th line players.Your lucky that I am not a scout because they would have never got a committment from me they are far from ready for Div 1 hockey.You say next year that Will will not be playing in the hack league, let me tell you when he goes and plays in any other league have your wallet ready because most leagues charge $4000 to play and if he plays in Canada he will really find it tough because Canadian teams usually finish their checks and Gauthier, and Gamelin hate the physicial game. IN MY OPINION.
I find this all very disturbing that all of you have brought up specific players to rant and or rave about.. I know Coach Bragagnolo, and Coach Sawruk even better, and Coach Sawruk, who clearly knows and understands the game just as good if not better then any other coach in this league has nothing but praise when speaking of all of his players. Alex is very proud of all his players and even more proud of the strides each rookie has taken this season. I’ve been to literally dozens of practices this year, and the two young men brought up in your comments have improved vastly. The transition from high school and midget hockey to the Junior A game is not an easy one, and some rookies have an easier time translating what they learn during practices when it comes to game time scenarios. And as far as I know, the Eagles just swept a higher seeded team in the first round of the playoffs and no one, including the veteran players, are guarenteed any specific amount of ice time. Instead of bashing the operations of this club, why don’t we all wish them the best as they continue this playoff run..?
It is very disturbing eaglefanforlife. From what I could gather here is that Ted is the one who has started this. It is pretty obvious who Ted is. Disgruntled parents should keep their opinions and sons names out of chat boxes because they usually will not like to hear what other parents and people think. It is better off to keep quiet and just go somewhere else next year as quietly as you can if you are not happy. I have been a fan of the NAHL for a while and I do find it ignorant of you Ted calling this a hack league. You clearly do not understand anything about the game which shows in everything you wrote. Wake up and smell the coffee because there will be a long tough road ahead for your son and you don”t need to make it any harder. Some parents always seem to ruin the game for themselves and their children, it’s too bad.
FYI Observer…I don’t care if everyone knows who I am…I don’t hide behind an avatar. I guess I shouldn’t write stuff down, for that I apologize ….I just get a little frustrated with all the articles about our rookies doing so well….I feel the boys weren’t really given a fair shake from the get go…It’s just my opinion, I didn’t mean to offend or start a sh**t storm of league and player bashing. Complaining about ice time is one thing….but calling out kids by name and saying they aren’t worthy of playing here is a little disappointing.
Ted,
You get a little frustrated with all the articles about the Eagles rookies doing so well?
Huh?
So what are saying is that you are disappointed when rookies such as Miller and Brice and Weaver are given much-deserved credit? Are you serious, man?
If so, THAT is disappointing!
Ted, you just don’t get it! Keep coming back for more. Can’t help people like you. You are really clueless.
Ted-Lisa You may not know this but all junior hockey clubs in US and Canada , Head coaches and General managers read this site and since you said that your son is not playing in that hack league next year, do you really think other teams want to put up with parents who complain about their sons ice time? Good Luck.