Saxton scores 3 in Eagles win at Espanola

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017

Saxton scores 3 in Eagles win at Espanola

ESPANOLA, Ont. – The Soo Eagles got a hat trick from Jake Saxton to help them skate to a 7-4 triumph over the Espanola Express Wednesday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the Regional Recreation Complex.

Each side would score once in the opening 20 minutes with Cameron Anklewich putting the Express on the board 60 seconds in while Saxton countered for the Eagles at 4:45.

Sault Ste. Marie struck quickly to open the second stanza thanks to Adam Ostrowski’s fifth of the season 48 seconds in.

The Eagles then went up 3-1 as 4:16 when Saxton connected on the power play.

Using special teams to their advantage, Espanola tacked on two of their own under four minutes apart of efforts from Jason Bednarski and Joshua Zlatinszky to knot the affair at 3-3.

The Soo would regain the lead however in the latter stages of the session when Saxton finished off his three-tally night at 17:38.

Brett Jones notched his first NOJHL marker 11 and a half minutes into the third to put the visitors back up by two before MacKenzie Aiken converted on the power play with just over seven minutes to go.

The Express would then pull starter Logan Sawka late in regulation in an effort to notch the equalizer, but it was the Eagles who got empty net goals from Jones and William Casey to secure the decision.

Chris Murphy and Rhett Rampinelli chipped with three assists apiece for the winners.

Aiken had a three-point night for Espanola.

The Soo outshot the Express 39-30 with Kade Phipps picking up the victory and Sawka the setback.