Wildcats rally to upend Eagles in OT

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – A Ryan Hempel goal 3:03 into overtime was the decider as the Elliot Lake Wildcats rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Soo Eagles in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League West Division affair Friday at Pullar Stadium.

Kicking off a seven-game homestand as well as eight of nine at Pullar, the Eagles got off on the right note as Kobe Keller notched his first of the season midway through the first period.

Sault Ste. Marie would extend their lead early in the second when George Orfanos supplied his seventh of the campaign at 2:02.

The score stayed that way until early in the third period when Elliot Lake got on the board compliments of a Noah Minns power play goal.

Up a skater again midway through the frame, the Wildcats tied it on a Mark Perone effort.

Regrouping, the Eagles went back on top with 7:35 to go as Hayden Clark picked up his third tally of the year for the Soo.

The Elliot Lake power play then clicked for a third time in the session to force extra time when Tanner Hicks tied it with 2:04 left in regulation.

In the OT, Hempel finished off the comeback for visitors to end it.

Eric Conley dished out three assists to aid the Wildcats cause while Hicks had two helpers to go with his goal.

Elliot Lake netminder Dominic Boily made 42 stops to pick-up a well-deserved win while Shane Brancato in the Soo net saw 31 shots fired his way in defeat helping the Eagles pick-up a point.