SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Getting a couple of goals from Hunter Friesen helped the Soo Eagles collect their fifth consecutive Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League victory Friday, as they skated to a 6-2 triumph over Elliot Lake Red Wings in front of over 1,000 spectators at Pullar Stadium.
Sault Ste. Marie came out quickly and took the lead a minute and 37 seconds into the proceedings thanks to Zachary Briskey firing a shot between the legs Elliot Lake goalkeeper Cameron Smith off a faceoff.
The Red Wings came back to tie it, just over five minutes in, as Zachary Vickerman ripped an attempt over the shoulder of the Eagles Logan Raffaele from the top of the left circle.
Going back in front during a late first period power play, the Soo’s Friesen was allowed to skate in where he beat Smith with a well-paced effort into the left corner.
Action in the middle stanza saw the Eagles strike shorthanded at 6:49 when Alex Freund spun while falling and put a low backhand through the Elliot Lake goaltender to put the hosts up by a pair after two.
Breaking it open in the finale frame, the home side tallied three times to help them win going away.
Michael Stec began the outburst five and a half minutes in as he blasted one by Smith from the high slot.
Up a couple of skaters a few shifts later, Chase Tallaire connected by jamming in a close-range chance during a five-on-three.
They then saw Freisen notch another midway through the period as he knocked in a Colin Handy wrister from the point.
The Red Wings did get the night’s final tally before time expired when Ryan Daponte spun in front and put one through the legs of Raffaele to cap off the result.
With the outcome, the Eagles move back to .500 on the year at 26-26-4-1 while Elliot Lake dipped to 19-35-1-2 overall.
The two teams will finish off their season Saturday in the back-end of a home-and-home with a 7 p.m. start at Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake and on HockeyTV.com.
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