Eagles getting it together
Soo Eagles have reeled off three wins in succession and are starting to look more like the team that was originally cast as a contender for the 2016-2017 Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League season.
The encouraging win streak has lifted the Eagles record to 7-11-2 and has co-coaches Bruno Bragagnolo and Jim Capy feeling better about the team that had fallen to seven games below .500 before the trio of recent victories.
“I think we have been focusing on and improving in two areas,” Bragagnolo began. “It begins with better defensive zone play and our power play has really improved recently to the extent that I think we are over 20 per cent and almost 30 per cent at home.
“We have also been a little more disciplined on the ice but still need to get better. Also, our goaltending has been better lately too. Kade Phipps has come in and played well for us. He’s making big saves at the right times for us,” Bragagnolo continued.
The American-born Phipps has a 3-0 record in 3 starts since joining the Eagles from the Alberta Jr. Hockey League where he was an import player for the Calgary Canucks.
Capy, meanwhile, said confidence has been a factor in the Eagles resurgence.
“We are currently playing with lots of confidence. We have cut down our goals against over the last 3 games and our scoring balance that we thought we had to start the season is starting to show,” said Capy.
And with the Eagles heading out on the road next for a three-game weekend series, Capy said the Eagles can’t afford to let up.
“We still have lots of work to get to where we want to be in a very competitive league,” Capy added.
TOP SCORERS
Chris Murphy leads the Eagles in scoring with 13 goals, 18 assists, 31 points.
Following Murphy are Brad Hofelich at 9-16-25, Jake Saxton at 9-15-24, William Casey at 6-13-19 and Michigan Soo product Landon Hubbard at 7-9-16.
CANADIAN CONTENT
The Eagles feature four players from the Canadian side of the St. Mary’s River at Sault Ste. Marie and all are playing prominent roles with the Michigan-based squad according to both Bragagnolo and Capy.
All-purpose, second-year forward Jake Palmerio has turned on the offensive switch and now has 7 goals, 6 assists, 13 points.
What sets Palmerio apart from other players with similar ability is work ethic and grit, according to Capy.
“If we could I would like to have 18 players like Jake on our team,” Capy said of Palmerio on a recent edition of the Hockey North Show on ESPN 1400. “That should tell you how much I think of Jake Palmerio.”
The other three from the Canadian Soo are all defensemen — veteran Nick Trecroce and rookies Carmen Scarfone and Nolan Makkonen.
Trecroce has 0 goals, 7 assists, 7 points while Scarfone is 0-5-5 and Makkonen is 1-12.
Bragagnolo said the troika “all bring a different dimension to our team in their own way but what I really like about them is how coach-able they are and what good team players they are. They have all come in this season and done a good job for us.”
FAN SUPPORT
The Eagles continue to be well supported by fans in the Twin Soo area with an average per-game attendance of 625, which puts them second in the NOJHL, trailing only the Timmins Rock.
The Rock leads the NOJHL with a per-game average attendance of 647 but the town of Timmins is almost 3 times the size of the Michigan Soo.
This wood be a 1st Place Team with better Goal tending !!!!!!!!!!
We should of scored 15 Goal’s last night. These guys have to learn to finish. Casey should of had 5 goals his self. Good game tho and the Burger was good but John talks to much Ha Ha. Ha.
There is abillity . What is lacking at times have been what I call “team effort”.
The Eagles are just as good as the Canada Zoo Birds. They just need to be more consistant and more Wins will follow of that I am certan.