Photos: Justin Cairns
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – A Logan Stawizynski goal with six seconds remaining in regulation was the difference as the Soo Eagles edged the Espanola Paper Kings 4-3 in a thrilling finish to a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League meeting at Pullar Stadium.
Connecting four and a half minutes into the match-up, the Eagles’ Jacob Peterson drove down the slot from the neutral zone and wired a shot over the blocker of Paper Kings’ starter Logan Vale.
Countering quickly, Espanola drew level at 5:42 when Michael Morascyzk picked off a clearing attempt and wired the equalizer past Sault Ste. Marie’s Jace Knoerle.
Answering that a couple of shifts later, Lucas Caulfield put the Soo back on top when he tucked in a feed put his way from Nolan Nemecek.
The Eagles then went up by a pair during a man advantage as Samuel Gold used a nice toe drag above the right circle and roofed a wrister on Vale.
Another off the stick of Morascyzk saw him supply his second of the session as he neatly guided in a pass from Joseph Coates to make it a 3-2 game after 40 minutes.
After a scoreless middle session, the Paper Kings pulled even via the power play with 2:27 remaining in regulation as Callum Millar went hard from right-to-left through the slot and wired the equalizer past Knoerle.
Then with overtime looming, Stawizynski got the dramatic game-winner for the Soo as he took a pass from Gold and ripped a short-side sizzler into the top corner to get the victory.
Now winners of six straight games, the suddenly soaring Eagles improved to 16-19-1-1 on the season while the late setback saw the Paper Kings drop to 21-14-0-2.
The same two teams will meet again Friday in a 7:30 p.m. start at the Regional Recreation Complex in Espanola and on FLOHockey.tv.
