Overtime win lifts Indians into first place

NEWS RELEASE

SOO INDIANS

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

Indians Move Into Tie For First Place Soo Indians have moved into a tie for first place in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. Sunday at Big Bear Arena, the Indians scored a frantic 6-5 overtime win over the visiting Manitoulin Islanders to improve their record to 22-11-2. The Indians' 46 points puts them in a first-place lock with Sudbury, though the Jr. Wolves hold a game in hand. Trailing 4-2 in the third period, the Indians got close on a shorthanded goal by Shane Bailey, tied it on Isaac Viau's second goal of the game and then went on ahead on a marker by Sam Yearsley. Manitoulin came back to tie the game 5-5 before defenceman Sean Reid won it on an overtime tally for the Indians. Aaron Brown scored the other Indians' goal. "We were going for the win in overtime and I think Manitoulin was a bit tired," said Indians' coach Kevin Cain, whose team outshot the visitors 6-0 in the extra frame. "As tough as a game this was, the shorthanded goal by Shane Bailey really lifted us." The win for the Indians improves their record to 5-2 since owner Charles Perdicaro fired former coach Jim Capy and subsequently replaced him with Cain. The Indians had started the weekend on Friday with a 3-0 win over their crossriver rivals, the Soo Thunderbirds. Meanwhile, Cain has announced that left winger Justin Maciuk has committed to joining the Indians during the first week of February. Maciuk, who formerly played with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League, is recovering from a wrist injury.

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