Birds too seasoned for Eagles - Junior Hockey

Birds too seasoned for Eagles

It was no surprise that Soo Thunderbirds prevailed over Soo Eagles in the playoff version of the Border Battle. Simply put, the Thunderbirds are a deeper, stronger, more-seasoned team than the Eagles and it showed with a four-game sweep ...
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I thought the Thunderbirds had an excellent team last season as well. Unfortunately for them the Eagles had secured the services of, then 16 year-old, netminder Jake Paterson. In their second round playoff matchup last season, Paterson upstaged the Tbirds fine netminder and Northern Michigan University committ Michael Doan. Paterson, though he was here for just a short time, is one of the finest netminders I have seen in the Twin Soo's. If anyone doubts that please refer to Central Scoutings list of 2012 NHL draft-eligible North American netminders and note that Mr. Paterson is ranked 5th. It is a rare day that a future 5th ranked North American NHL goaltending prospect makes an appearance in the NOJHL. This isn't meant to take anything away from the Eagles skaters and they may well have downed the Thunderbirds without Paterson last season but my oh my would it have been tough (not that it was easy WITH Paterson in net I couldn't imagine it without him between the pipes).

I have been covering the NOJHL full-throttle for several years and I have seen a number of goalies move on to the OHL and NCAA Division 1 ranks. But I will concur with Donald Suppa that Jake Paterson may be the best I have ever seen, period. The fact that Paterson was just 16-years old when he played in the NOJHL makes it even more startling, in my books.

Do the Michigan Warriors evan have a PR Department? Does any one answer E-mails there? Can't find a thing about Goalie Brach Tiller leaving!