Home side rules border battle


By
January 8, 2017

Soo Thunderbirds and Soo Eagles continue to utilize home ice in the ongoing border battle between the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League rivals.

Home-ice advantage was once again the difference as the Twin Soo foes faced off on Friday at the Essar Centre in Soo, Ontario and on Saturday at Pullar Stadium in the Michigan Soo.

The West Division-leading Thunderbirds used the home space of the empty Essar to upend the fourth-place Eagles 5-2 before a crowd of less than 200. Then it was the Eagles turn to take charge at home with a 3-1 triumph over the Thunderbirds before more than 630 fans at the pulsating Pullar.

The Thunderbirds now hold a five games to four edge on the Eagles this season with neither team able to win away from home.

“I don’t know what it is,” Eagles co-coach/general manager Bruno Bragagnolo said about the inability of either team to win away from home when playing one another. “I guess both teams just find a certain advantage in their own building. I will say that fans of both teams have been treated to some very good hockey.”

To be sure, the Twin Soo rivalry is one of the more-heated matchups in the 12-team NOJHL and has been for a number of years.

This year’s rivalry is enhanced by the fact that the Eagles have four players from the Canadian Soo on their roster and the Thunderbirds have a player from the Michigan Soo on their side.

Forward Jake Palmerio and defensemen Nick Trecroce, Carmen Scarfone and Nolan Makkonen are Canadian Soo Eagles while goalie Brandon Gordon is a Michigan Soo Thunderbird.

Palmerio is tied for fourth on the Eagles scoring chart with 16 goals, 17 assists, 33 points. Trecroce has 0-20-20 numbers, Scarfone is 0-7-7 and Makkonen is 1-3-4.

Gordon, meanwhile, has 20 wins in the Thunderbird net as the team’s no. 1 goalie ahead of Soo Greyhounds Ontario Hockey League prospect Doug Newhouse.

PHOTO: Soo Eagles forward Jake Palmerio heads up ice with Soo Thunderbirds forward Matt Caruso in pursuit in border battle action from Friday night at the Essar Centre. (Photo by Ali Pearson.)


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