NIPIGON _ Friday night at the Nipigon Community Centre the Nipigon Elks played host to the Thunder Bay Screaming Eagles. The last time the Eagles were in Nipigon they defeated the Elks 8-6. Tonight the Elks were hoping they could get a win this time in front of their hometown crowd.
The first period scoring began in the Elks favour. George Ossachuk scored to put the Elks up 1-0. While on the power play the Eagles Jesse Wawia-Boucher scored to tie the game at 1-1 at the 10:03 mark. Jesse Wawia- Boucher is from Nipigon. Jesse struck again on the power play to put the Eagles 2-1 at the 16:40 mark. The Eagles were flying high and preying for more goals. The Eagles team captain Nathan Calder scored to put the visiting Eagles up 3-1. Justin Peters scored another power play goal for the Eagles to go to 4-1 at the 17:53. With that 4th Eagle goal the Nipigon coaches Jason Nicol and Cameron Girvin pulled Ryan Williams in favour of Thomas Gratz. The Elks out shot the Eagles 18-16.
During the second period there was only one goal scored. The goal came from the Elks point leader and team captain Steven St.Jean. The goal was Steven’s 16th of the year and make he score 4-2. The Elks would out shot the visitors 21-10 for a two period total of 39-29.
The third period belonged to the Nipigon Elks. George Ossachuk notched his second goal of the game to bring Nipigon within one goal at 4-3. Two minutes later Cole Saunders would tie the game at 4-4 and send the Elks bench into frenzy at the 6:21 mark. In nine seconds later Steven St. Jean would get his second of the game to put the Elks up 5-4 and the Elks were one happy hockey team. Brandon Polhill would score the fourth goal of the period and give the Elks a 6-4 lead. When the final buzzer sounded the Nipigon Elks had themselves a hard fought come back win against the Eagles. Nipigon out shot the Eagles 25-16 for a final total of 64-45.
The Elks next game is Friday February 18th when they will be playing against the first place Thunder Bay Northern Hawks at 7:30pm.
League playoffs will be starting on March 10th.
Nipigon Sports Reports are provided by Doug Harvey.