Net losses cost Eagles
Soo Eagles matched the top team in the 24-member North American Hockey League stride-for-stride this weekend only to drop back-to-back home games to the Janesville Jets.
Simply put, Janesville got better goaltending in upending the Eagles by 6-1 and 6-4 scores.
Both 20-year old veteran Sean Keating and rookie Jack Berry struggled in separate starts for the Eagles, who are in third place in the six-team North Division of the NAHL with a record of 21-20-1.
“We need our goalies to be more consistent,” said Eagles coach-general manager Bruno Bragagnolo in the wake of the two losses to Janesville in which the Soo deserved a better outcome.
“We need better goaltending,” said Eagles goalie coach Bill Vanderleest, with a shake of his head.
To be sure, so-so goaltending has been an issue for the Eagles in the hotly-contested North Division.
While the Eagles are in third place, just five points back of the second-seeded Keystone Ice Miners, they are only one point ahead of fourth-place Johnstown Tomahawks and three points up on fifth-place Springfield Jr. Blues — which puts the Soo in danger of missing the playoffs with 18 games to play in the regular season.
Which brings us to goaltending.
Of the six teams in the NAHL North, the Eagles are the only one with an overall save percentage below the watershed .900 mark.
Keystone goalies have the best save percentage at .925 followed by Janesville at .919, last-place Michigan Warriors at .911, Johnstown at .907, Springfield at .902 and the Soo at .895.
Do the math.
Sean Keating is “ok” but at the Junior A level has been a carreer back up and could not be the starter in pembroke last year as well, which is why he went to the Eagles thinking he would be a clear cut starter. This might come to haunt them,
toughtimes,
Didn’t you try to get Keating to be the starter for your NOJHL team?
toughtimes are you who I think you are??? good riddence if you are.
BB needs to get his skates on and get out in practice and teach some defense!
In a 24 team league the Soo are 24th on the PP and 21st in PK. Special teams need to be better.
First the Jets are clearly a better team – leading the league in points is a testament to that. While we gave a up a few questionable goals Janesville scored some beauties – tic-tac-toe – bang its in your net. All too often the Soo D-men were caught watching the puck leaving back door opportunities wide open. A couple of name players were no-shows over the weekend and there is no doubt whatever they practice for a powerplay needs to change and pronto. An old tennis mentor once told me ‘ if you don’t have a winning game – you have to change it’. Another issue, and this has fans grumbling, is losing at home. While its nice to win on the road, the home town fans don’t see those games, they come to see you use your home ice, home crowd advantage to gain wins. There are several little things, that if the Eagles got just a little better at, they would not be in third and falling. But they need to keep looking forward and not over their shoulder because that can come back to bite you. I would say the schedule (after these next 2 weekends) looks favorable – but only if they take advantage of their home ice. Just some thoughts from a know nothing.
So why don’t they give George a call back up to see what he can do?
…IN MY OPINION…the Eagles have too many old players that do not produce. Menta for one. They have a young inexperienced coach who is in over his head at the jr level when handling players. Their PP speaks for its self. Same guys on it , all the time. Again its coaching. They have given him too much to handle (Sawurk). They have to pick it up, and can’t afford to miss the playoffs.
I don’t think its too much for Alex – you sell this dynamic young man short by saying that, but he does have a new business he is trying to get off the ground and that makes his work even that more difficult juggling two occupations. I believe they are grooming him to take over the team as head coach, but the current one still has the final say on matters, especially player acquisition. Take the reigns off Mr. Sawruk and just watch him blossom.
I here that the Eagles have fired John “Wise Guy” Wisenen as one of their Scouts ??? If that is true then I say “see ya later Johnny”…just not at the Pullar.
American Eagle,
I have confirmed that John Waisanen no longer scouts for the Eagles. It is my understanding that his departure from the Eagles was by mutual agreement.