Indians even series with Under-17 Team

With an end to their run in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan looming, the Soo Indians wanted to make sure they gave their fans one last chance to see them in action.

Trailing the United States National Team Development Program's Under-17 team two games to nothing in the North Division championship, the Indians were hoping to force the series to go at least two more games and that they did as they swept a pair of games at the Chi Mukwa (Big Bear) Community Recreation Centre over the weekend.

A 3-2 victory on Saturday night and a 3-0 victory on Sunday afternoon gave the Indians what they had hoped for.

On Saturday evening, the Indians erased two one-goal deficits en route to victory.

After Michael Carmen opened the scoring at 16:33 of the opening period, Ricky Akkerman scored with the Indians on the power play at 19:41. The Indians received an extended power play as well, as the goal came on a delayed penalty call.

Trent Palm gave Team USA the lead again at 11:02 of the second period with a power play marker. Again in the final minute of the period the Indians answered when Marty Gurnoe beat Team USA goaltender Brett Bennett with one second left in an Indians two man advantage.

Matthew Buckley gave the Indians just their second lead of the series – they lead game one 1-0 before dropping a 5-4 decision – 1:45 into the third period and the locals held on for the 3-2 victory to get back into the series.

Game four on Sunday afternoon saw the two teams battle through two scoreless periods, with limited scoring chances either way, before the Indians erupted in the third period.

Ray Kaunisto got the Indians on the board at 1:26 of the third period to open the scoring. Joe Beaudry gave the Indians some insurance at 13:43 when he cut in front of the USA goal and beat Bennett. Just 16 seconds later Buckley, who played well in both games, sealed the victory.

The victories send the series back to Ann Arbor for game five on Thursday evening tied at two games apiece.

Following Sunday's victory, Indians coach Joe Shawhan commented on the fact that, despite already being guaranteed a spot in the National Championships, his team is looking at the series with Team USA as important.

"(The series) means a lot to us," Shawhan said. "We play to play. We don't look at it (as not meaning anything). We look at it as every game you want to play and you want to do the best you can at it. It's a matter of competing and it's a matter of succeeding.

"There's no quit in our guys," the veteran coach continued. "They could have rolled over and let the series end. We had trouble matching their speed during the first two games. Now I think our guys have adjusted to their speed."

Shawhan was pleased with the efforts of his entire team in the two games, saying it wasn't just one player who was key to the wins, but instead it was a total team effort.

"I just can't say it enough, there's no quit in these guys," Shawhan said. "We were down two games to nothing here and came back. You never know what's possible with these guys. When they set their mind to it, they just keep surprising all of us.

"It's character guys making character plays," Shawhan added. "I wouldn't put anybody above anybody else in the game. Everybody gave everything they had and gave us an unbelievable effort. They just love to play hockey.

"You have to be (solid defensively) or they'll make you look stupid. You have to make sure your offence comes off of your defence and we were able to do that and generate transitional offence which we weren't able to do at all in game two."

He went on to say that he was pleased to get the opportunity to play one final home game as the team will be folding following the National Championships in Bismarck, North Dakota.

"Now we know that we'll have one more game at home," said Shawhan, who is in his tenth season with the team. "I hope we have a full house for the last time we'll ever have Soo Indians hockey. Unless someone were to step up and buy it or step up. I can get the franchise if someone wants to operate it. (The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians) is no longer involved and there's nothing in the works.

"I don't know if it was (on the players' minds that it could be the last game). It was definitely on the coaches minds that it could be the last walk across to the bench in this rink."

The final Indians home game will be on Apr. 23 at the Chi Mukwa (Big Bear) Community Recreation Centre. Game time is set for 7 p.m.