Indians conclude successful weekend

NEWS RELEASE

SOO INDIANS ****************************

Indians sweep home openers Strong goaltending by two netminders and solo goals from eight different players sparked the Soo Indians to a weekend sweep at Big Bear Arena as their Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season got underway. Friday night, the Indians spotted North Bay a 1-0 lead before rebounding to close out a 3-1 win over the Skyhawks. Joe Larson, Nick Zilka and Chris Cooper scored for the Indians and Brennan Poderzay made 17 saves, several of the difficult variety. Cooper's goal late in the third period sealed the deal for the Indians, who outshot North Bay 22-18 before a crowd of 300. Saturday night, the Indians again fell behind 1-0 before scoring twice in the first period and three more times in the second en route to a 5-2 victory over the Abitibi Eskmos before a crowd of 225. Derek Thocker, James Ciotti, Isaac Viau, Dan Vernelli and Daren Mansfield scored for the Indians. Vernelli is a Soo, Ontario native and Mansfield is a Soo, Michigan product. Goalie Elliot Hogue was the story of the game for the Indians, earning first-star status with a spectacular 36-save effort. Abitibi outshot the Soo 38-20 -- including 19-2 in the third period -- but Hogue held the Indians in the game, especially while shorthanded. The Indians are home for two more games this weekend as the defending NOJHL champion Sudbury Northern Jr. Wolves are at Big Bear Arena on Saturday night and the Blind River Beavers make a Sunday evening visit. Both games will begin at 7 p.m.

************************************************************