Eagles, EL in prelim round
Soo Eagles will have the advantage of the home ice of Pullar Stadium for Game 1 of their best-of-three preliminary-round playoff series with the Elliot Lake Wildcats.
The series opener will be played on Friday (March 10) at 7:30 p.m. at the Pullar.
The preliminary-round series between the Eagles and Elliot Lake is one of two that will be staged in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League.
In a format introduced last season, the fourth-and-fifth-place finishers in both the West and East divisions face off in a best-of-three-set. The winners then advance to the next round of the playoffs with the top three finishers from each division.
The Eagles finished fourth in the West Division with 57 points from a record of 27-26-3. Elliot Lake finished fifth with 53 points from a record of 23-26-7.
Based on the Michigan side of the St. Mary’s River at Sault Ste. Marie, the Eagles have a good following from the Canadian side due to the presence of three players, not to mention two coaches.
The players are 1997 birth-year forward Jake Palmerio, 1996 birth-year defenseman Nick Trecroce and 1999 birth-year blueliner Carmen Scarfone.
Palmerio potted 21 goals, 25 assists, 46 points in 49 games for the Eagles during the 2016-2017 regular season. Trecroce had 0-26-26 totals in 49 games and the rookie Scarfone played in 55 of the Eagles 56 contests and had 0-11-11 numbers.
Palmerio finished fourth on the Eagles in scoring.
As Palmerio, Trecroce and Scarfone all reside on the Canadian side of the St. Mary’s River, so do head coach Jim Capy and goalie coach Bill Vanderleest.
Fan support is no issue for the Eagles as they finished second in the 12-team NOJHL with a per-game average attendance of 606 spectators.
To be sure, venerable Pullar Stadium is exceptionally clean and well-maintained with a deserved reputation as one of the best junior A hockey venues, period. Built in 1939 and the pride of the Michigan Soo, the Pullar is — simply put — a jewel of a facility.
Meanwhile, as the Eagles get set to face Elliot Lake in the West Division prelim, the East Division 4 v. 5 matchup has the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners taking on the Iroquois Falls Eskis.
Following are the prelim-round playoff schedules.
No. 4 Soo Eagles vs. No. 5 Elliot Lake Wildcats
Game 1: Friday, March 10 @ Soo Eagles 7:30 p.m. (Pullar Stadium)
Game 2: Saturday, March 11 @ Elliot Lake 7:30 p.m. (Centennial Arena)
Game 3*: Tuesday, March 14 @ Soo Eagles 7:30 p.m. (Pullar Stadium)
* if necessary.
No. 4 Kirkland Lake Gold Miners vs. No. 5 Iroquois Falls Eskis
Game 1: Friday, March 10 @ Kirkland Lake 7:30 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac Community Complex)
Game 2: Sunday, March 12 @ Iroquois Falls 2 p.m. (Jus Jordan Arena)
Game 3*: Tuesday, March 14 @ Kirkland Lake 7:30 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac Community Complex)
* if necessary.
PHOTO: Soo Eagles rookie defenseman Carmen Scarfone. (Photo by Ali Pearson.)
My prediction:
Gold Miners over Eskis in 2
Eagles over Wildcats in 3
If only the NHL would adopt this best of three format for the extra playoff teams…