Hockey Notebook: Midget and junior hockey in full swing (updated)

The Soo Thunderbirds midget team continues to prepare for their first Great North Midget League action this weekend.

The team played the second of six exhibition games against the Michigan based Soo Indians on Wednesday night, dropping a 6-3 decision at the Essar Centre.

The Indians scored four times in the third period to overcome a 3-2 deficit in the win.

Brad Thrower had a pair of goals for the Thunderbirds in the loss while Zack Taylor added a goal and an assist for the locals.

Brenden MacLaren scored a pair of goals for the Indians while Ethan St. Germain and Blake Matsaw had a goal and two assists each. Michael Miller and John Pesek had a goal and an assist for the Indians.

The Thunderbirds open their GNML schedule on Saturday night when they host the North Bay Trappers in the first of two games at the Essar Centre on Saturday night. Puck drop is 7 p.m. The two teams are back in action on Sunday afternoon at the John Rhodes Community Centre in a 12:30 p.m. start.

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EAGLES AT NAHL SHOWCASE

The Soo Eagles are off to a solid start at the North American Hockey League Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota this week.

After a weekend split against the Janesville Jets on home ice, the Eagles are 2-0 through the opening two days of the league showcase tournament.

On Wednesday night, an 18-save performance by Sean Keating led the Eagles to a 7-0 win over the Bismarck Bobcats. Raymond Brice, Chase Matson, Brad Pung and Keegan Miller had a goal and an assist each for the Eagles in the win. Kristofers Bindulis and Denver Pierce added two assists each in the game while Sandis Zolmanis, Trevor Cope and Evan Mills also had goals in the Eagles win.

On Thursday, the Eagles skated to a 3-1 win over the Minot Minotauros.Zolmanis had a goal and an assist for the Eagles in the win while Bruno Birzitis set up a pair of goals. Matson and Matt Menta also scored in the win. Goaltender Jack Berry stopped 19 shots for the Eagles.

Nick Monfils had the lone goal for Minot while goaltender Atte Tolvanen stopped 19 shots.

The Eagles wrap up the showcase with two more games beginning Friday when they face the Brookings Blizzard. They finish the showcase on Saturday when they face the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.

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ATTACK SWEEP EXHIBITION GAMES

The Batchewana Attack swept a pair of recent exhibition games against the Espanola Rivermen as they prepare for their first season as members of the Canadian International Hockey League.

The Attack beat Espanola by scores of 6-0 in Espanola and 6-1 at the Rankin Arena locally in their first exhibition games.

The team has a pair of upcoming exhibition games this weekend, facing the St. Charles Spirit on Friday night at the Ranking before travelling to Sudbury for a second game on Sunday afternoon.

The new eight-team league, not sanctioned by Hockey Canada, begins regular season play in October.