ESPANOLA, Ont. – An evenly played Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest Friday saw the Soo Eagles and Espanola Paper Kings play to a 2-2 overtime draw at the Regional Recreation Complex.
It was the hometown Paper Kings who opened the scoring 8:48 in when Callum Millar sent a backhand out into the slot from the end boards that Zachary Grahn whipped past Eagles’ starter Dalton Hoornstra.
Sault Ste. Marie countered with an equalizer later in the first period when Nolan Nemecek slammed in a loose puck put to the crease by Micah Seery that eluded Espanola netminder Logan Vale.
Still even heading to the second period, the home side retook the lead a couple of minutes in when Jason Galante lifted in a backhand from the left of the crease off a chance generated in deep by Michael Morascyzk.
The Soo came back to force extra time in the third as Lucas Caulfield snapped one in from a sharp angle with just under nine minutes to go.
Neither side would not muster another goal through the remainder of regulation, or the seven-minute OT, to come away with one point apiece in the standings.
The tie moves the Paper Kings record to 21-14-1-2, while the Eagles went to 16-19-2-1.
