Soo Eagles headed the right way
Now in their fifth year under current ownership and a hockey department led by veteran coach-general manager Bruno Bragagnolo, the Michigan-based Soo Eagles have established a firm and faithful following.
From two years in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey to this, their third season in the North American Hockey League, the Eagles have served notice that they are in Sault Ste. Marie to stay.
To be sure, the Eagles have increased their attendance at refurbished-but-still-venerable Pullar Stadium to the point where they now average about 700 fans per game, which is more than double the following there was before the present regime took over.
On the ice this 2014-2015 season, the Eagles have won three straight games to improve their record to 7-5 atop the North Division of the NAHL.
The Eagles are home this weekend, with North Division rivals, the Janesville Jets, headed to the Pullar for games tonight (7:30) and Saturday (7:00.)
Bragagnolo has strengthened the Eagles roster from 2013-2014 to 2014-2015 starting in goal with a new twine tandem of rookie sensation Jack Berry and veteran Sean Keating.
Defensively, returnee Kristofers Bindulis heads up the blueline brigade while up front, newcomers such as Trevor Cope and Keegan Miller have complemented seasoned skaters that include Bruno Birzitis, Sandis Zolmanis, Nick Belger, Chase Matson, Matt Menta, Brad Pung and Michigan Soo product Denver Pierce.
Miller, whose father, Kurt Miller was a high-scoring forward with the Lake Superior State University Lakers during their National Collegiate Athletic Association championship days of the early 1990s, has local roots on his mother’s side and is living with his grandparents in the Michigan Soo.
Also of a local nature, rookie forwards Chase Gamelin and Will Gauthier are graduates of the Sault High Blue Devils.
The Eagles also boast a player from north of the International Bridge in second-year defenceman Michael Caruso of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Of note, Cope (Michigan Tech), Belger (Sacred Heart), Pierce (Northern Michigan) and Gamelin and Gauthier (LSSU) all have Division 1, NCAA commitments.
As the Eagles are putting it together on the ice under Bragagnolo, associate coach Alex Sawruk and assistant coaches Joe Behling and Bill Vanderleest, the scouting staff led by Tom Farnquist is chiefly responsible for the influx of high-end players to the Eagles.
The Eagles, as sponsor John Jorgensen Jr. of Marchetti Distributing has noted, are an organization that promotes good kids and community projects.
As Bragagnolo oversees the Eagles on the ice, he also does away from the rink, noting the “absolute fantastic volunteers who make the franchise a success at all levels.”
PHOTO: Soo Eagles defenceman Michael Caruso. (Photo by EUPNEWS.com.)
Great articles Randy, also great to see the local talent the Eagles have that are committed to universities.
it would be nice to see them on the ice once in awhile!!!