FRENCH RIVER – The Soo Eagles got two goals, including the game-winner, courtesy of Caleb Wood midway through the second period as they went on to edge the French River Rapids 3-2 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Sunday at Noelville Arena.
Both clubs came out firing offensively in the opening 20 minutes with each side scoring twice in the session.
It was visiting Sault Ste. Marie who held the early edge, getting markers 20 seconds apart from Bobby Price and Wood as the guests took a 2-0 lead before the contest was two minutes old and saw the Rapids replace starting goalkeeper Ben Montgomery in favour of Sebastian Woods, who went the rest of the way.
Regrouping, French River got those back before the frame was complete beginning with Ryan Smith’s fifth of the season at 9:55.
The Rapids then collected the equalizer off the stick of Jack Tos at 16:23 as the teams headed to the intermission tied at 2-2.
In the second, the Eagles picked up what proved to be the game-winner just moments before a French River penalty was set to expire as they saw Wood whack in his second of game and team-leading 16th of the campaign with half a contest to play.
But from there, neither side would be able to score again as the Soo went on to register the road triumph.
Ryan Gilmore started for the Soo, stopping six of eight, but gave way Shane Brancato after the second French River marker.
Brancato in turn handled all 22 attempts he faced in relief to record the win.
Woods saw 36 shots in defeat in suffering the setback.
Game Photos courtesy of Dal Photography