The Michigan Soo Indians knew heading into their first round North American Hockey League playoff series against the US (Under-17) National Team that they were going to be in for a battle.
If the opening two games are any indication this series could be a long one.
The two teams opened up the series on Friday night in front of a big crowd at the Chi Mukwa Community Recreation Centre.
The National team, which is made up of players 17 years-old and under although two members of the US Under-18 team are competing in this series, opened up the scoring as Seth Seidman, who is one of five 18-year-olds playing with the team, beat Indians goaltender Derek MacIntyre to give the National team a 1-0 lead at 8:58 of the opening period.
The Indians replied early in the second period on the power play as defenceman Jim Jorgensen beat Under-17 goaltender Bill Blasé with a point shot at 1:56. Andrew Broughton gave the Indians a 2-1 lead at 8:31 when he beat Blasé with what turned out to be the winning goal.
Jason Blain, who recently committed to play hockey at Northeastern University next season, then added another power play goal at 10:40 when he took a feed from Tom Kolar and roofed a shot past Blasé to give the Indians a 3-1 lead heading into the third period.
Despite some pressure from the Under-17 team, especially late in the period when they pulled Blasé in favour of an extra attacker with just over two minutes left in the game, the Indians managed to hold on for the 3-1 win and take a 1-0 series lead.
On Saturday night the two teams again showed why this could be one of the most entertaining series' among all of the NAHL's first round matchups.
The Indians looked poised to take a 2-0 lead in the series early when Joe Beaudry opened up the scoring at 3:27 when he picked up a rebound and beat Blasé, who was down and out on the play, to give the Indians an early 1-0 lead.
After a scoreless second period the teams got down to business in the third. Dan Fardig, another of the five 18-year-olds playing on the team, got the Under-17 team on the board at 6:24.
Exactly two minutes later Beaudry, who was named the game's second star, scored his second goal of the evening to give the Indians a 2-1 lead.
Nick Foligno, who is the son of former NHL player and current Sudbury Wolves coach and G.M. Mike Foligno who was in attendance for game one of the series, tied the game again with just over four minutes left when he beat Indians goaltender MacIntyre to the stick side.
The two teams went scoreless for the final four minutes and went into overtime where the Under-17 team wasted little time in ending it.
Forward Ryan Stoa picked up a rebound off of a Jason Lawrence shot and beat MacIntyre to give the Under-17 team a 3-2 victory just 21 seconds into the extra frame.
Indians coach Joe Shawhan, who was visibly disappointed following the game declined comment.
The Under-17 team features nine players drafted by Ontario Hockey League teams including the aforementioned Foligno (Sudbury, fifth round in 2003) and hulking defenceman Mike Stuart (Sarnia, tenth round in 2003), who, like a number of his teammates, has already committed to going to play NCAA hockey.
Others include Brandon Burns (Saginaw, second round in 2002), Joe Charlebois (Ottawa, seventh round in 2003), Mark Mitera (Plymouth, second round in 2003), Jimmy Fraser (Sudbury, 12th round in 2003), Zach MacVoy (Sarnia, fourth round in 2003), Brandon Gentile (Guelph, fourth round in 2003) and Scott Birnstill (Brampton, fifth round in 2003).
The Under-17 team currently features five 18-year-olds in this series as a number of players who started the season with the team are now playing with the Under-18 team, including the likes of OHL prospects Jack Skille, who was a Toronto St. Michael's Majors draft pick, Zach Jones, who was a Kitchener pick, as well as Nathan Gerbe.
Game three between the two teams will take place in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Thursday night, while game four will be on Friday, also in Ann Arbor. Game five, if necessary, will be back in Sault Ste. Marie next Saturday night at the Chi Mukwa Community Recreation Centre.