Soo Eagles

The Soo Eagles are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
==History==
===Eagles era(s)===
The Eagles existed four different times. From 1962 until 1971, Espanola joined the NOJHL as it was formed and stayed until a year before it folded due to lack of enough competition. They joined the local NOHA Junior "B" league. In 1972, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Sudbury Wolves walked away from the league to join the Ontario Hockey League. They reemerged in 1978 and stayed until 1988. They came back from 1991 until 1995. Their last stint in the league lasted from 1998 until 2003. Espanola, a very small Northern town, always struggled to keep the team viable and competitive. They were never an overly successful team, but they did win the 1963 McNamara Trophy as league champions. In their last season (2002-03), they won only 5 games the whole season. Their last win was against the Sudbury Northern Wolves. At the end of that season, the Screaming Eagles were bought and were relocated to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Most players did not follow, and moved on to other teams.
===Black Bears era===
As the Northern Michigan Black Bears, the franchise celebrated some of its most successful hockey in years. After 3 winning seasons and a trip to the league finals in 2004-05, the ownership group decided to sell the financially unstable team.
===Indians era===
In late summer of 2006, New York Land developer Charles Perdicaro bought and renamed the black bears the Soo Indians. Perdicaro hired Jim Capy to coach the Indians. The Indians are made up of players from all over the United States, including players from Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Illinois. Over Christmas break Perdicaro fired Capy and his staff due to "philosophical differences" and hired Kevin Cain to take over.
The Soo Indians went on to win the NOJHL's McNamara Trophy as 2007 playoff champions but were not successful at the Dudley Hewitt Cup.
In Spring 2007, Perdicaro put the Indians up for sale. Perdicaro failed to find a buyer and did not ice a team for the 2007-08 season.
===Eagles era===
The Indians were sold in early 2008, and changed their name to the Soo Eagles. They began play in 2008–09.
Capping the 2010–11 season, the Soo Eagles finished with a 37-10-3 record, 2nd in the West Division behind the Soo Thunderbirds; 2nd overall in the NOJHL. Brian Depp, a native of Fenton, Michigan, led the Eagles in scoring with 73 points, tied for 3rd in the NOJHL.
The Eagles began the 2010–11 playoffs with a match-up against the Blind River Beavers. The Eagles disposed of the Beavers in five games, gliding to the West Division Final against their rivals, the Soo Thunderbirds. The Eagles upset the regular season champion Thunderbirds winning in six games in a hard fought series.
The Eagles faced off in a best-of-seven playoff series against the Sudbury Jr. Wolves for the 2010–11 NOJHL title. They won the title in six games. This win put them into the Dudley Hewitt Cup Championship, finishing third.
On March 2, 2012, the Soo Eagles announced that they were leaving the NOJHL for the Tier II junior North American Hockey League. The Eagles bought the franchise rights of the Traverse City North Stars to make the move possible.
On March 24, 2012, the Eagles played their final NOJHL game, a 4-2 loss to the Soo Thunderbirds in front of a hometown crowd in Pullar Stadium. The loss completed a 4-game sweep of the Eagles in their semifinal series with the Thunderbirds.
Following the 2014–15 season the Michigan Warriors were displaced by the Flint Firebirds of the higher class OHL. With the loss of Flint and previous departures of teams from Port Huron, Detroit (twice), Kalamazoo, Alpena, Traverse City and Marquette, the Soo Eagles became isolated and it was determined to be financially impossible to continue in the NAHL. With the NAHL adding more teams to the East, the Eagles ownership took the opportunity to sell their NAHL franchise to Middletown Township, New Jersey and join with the existing New Jersey Junior Titans organization (which had formerly fielded Tier III teams) and the Soo Eagles team was granted re-admission to the NOJHL.
==Season-by-season results==
Season 	GP 	W 	L 	T/OL 	PTS 	GF 	GA 	PIM 	Result 	Playoffs 	
Espanola Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Eagles (NOJHL) 	
1978–79 	40 	5 	35 	0 	10 	N/A 	N/A 	N/A 	6th 	Did not qualify 	
1979–80 	40 	4 	32 	2 	10 	203 	383 	N/A 	6th 	No playoffs 	
1980–81 	40 	15 	20 	5 	35 	222 	282 	N/A 	4th 	No playoffs 	
1981–82 	42 	14 	27 	1 	29 	207 	251 	N/A 	7th 	Did not qualify 	
1982–83 	42 	21 	19 	2 	44 	234 	250 	N/A 	4th 	Did not qualify 	
1983–84 	40 	4 	32 	4 	12 	211 	430 	N/A 	6th 	Did not qualify 	
1984–85 	40 	8 	28 	4 	20 	221 	377 	N/A 	6th 	Did not qualify 	
1985–86 	41 	8 	33 	0 	16 	211 	446 	N/A 	7th 	Did not qualify 	
1986–87 	37 	4 	31 	2 	10 	169 	316 	N/A 	4th 	Did not qualify 	
1987–88 	39 	6 	31 	2 	14 	172 	315 	N/A 	5th 	Did not qualify 	
1988–89 	40 	25 	10 	5 	55 	274 	202 	N/A 	3rd 	Did not qualify 	
1989–91 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate
1991–92 	48 	10 	37 	1 	11 	177 	371 	N/A 	6th 	Did not qualify 	
1992–93 	48 	11 	37 	0 	22 	163 	345 	N/A 	6th 	Did not qualify 	
1993–94 	40 	23 	16 	1 	47 	272 	206 	N/A 	2nd 	Lost in Semifinals 	
1994–95 	48 	6 	39 	3 	15 	173 	389 	N/A 	7th 	Did not qualify 	
1995–98 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate
1998–99 	40 	8 	30 	2 	18 	150 	281 	N/A 	6th 	Did not qualify 	
Espanola Screaming Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Screaming Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Screaming Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Screaming Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Screaming Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Screaming Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Screaming Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Screaming Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Screaming Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Screaming Eagles (NOJHL) 	Espanola Screaming Eagles (NOJHL) 	
1999–00 	40 	4 	34 	2 	10 	128 	329 	N/A 	5th 	Did not qualify 	
2000–01 	40 	8 	29 	3 	19 	99 	200 	N/A 	6th 	Did not qualify 	
2001–02 	42 	13 	27 	2 	28 	168 	294 	N/A 	6th 	Did not qualify 	
2002–03 	48 	5 	43 	0 	10 	140 	404 	N/A 	7th 	Did not qualify 	
Northern Michigan Black Bears (NOJHL)	Northern Michigan Black Bears (NOJHL)	Northern Michigan Black Bears (NOJHL)	Northern Michigan Black Bears (NOJHL)	Northern Michigan Black Bears (NOJHL)	Northern Michigan Black Bears (NOJHL)	Northern Michigan Black Bears (NOJHL)	Northern Michigan Black Bears (NOJHL)	Northern Michigan Black Bears (NOJHL)	Northern Michigan Black Bears (NOJHL) 	Northern Michigan Black Bears (NOJHL) 	
2003–04 	48 	25 	17 	6 	56 	199 	170 	857 	2nd, West 	Lost in Semifinals 	
2004–05 	48 	28 	13 	7 	63 	174 	126 	824 	1st, West 	Lost in Final 	
2005–06 	48 	27 	15 	6 	60 	180 	142 	872 	2nd, West 	Lost in Semifinal 	
Soo Indians (NOJHL) 	Soo Indians (NOJHL) 	Soo Indians (NOJHL) 	Soo Indians (NOJHL) 	Soo Indians (NOJHL) 	Soo Indians (NOJHL) 	Soo Indians (NOJHL) 	Soo Indians (NOJHL) 	Soo Indians (NOJHL) 	Soo Indians (NOJHL) 	Soo Indians (NOJHL) 	
2006–07 	48 	31 	15 	2 	64 	193 	145 	1,071 	1st, West 	Champions 	
2007–08 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate 	Did Not Participate
Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	
2008–09 	50 	26 	21 	3 	55 	257 	209 	932 	2nd, West 	Lost in Semifinal 	
2009–10 	50 	27 	18 	5 	59 	224 	213 	894 	3rd, West 	Lost in Semifinal 	
2010–11 	50 	37 	10 	3 	77 	256 	159 	846 	2nd, West 	Champions 	
2011–12 	50 	35 	11 	4 	74 	290 	171 	729 	2nd, West 	Lost in Semifinal 	
Soo Eagles (NAHL) 	Soo Eagles (NAHL) 	Soo Eagles (NAHL) 	Soo Eagles (NAHL) 	Soo Eagles (NAHL) 	Soo Eagles (NAHL) 	Soo Eagles (NAHL) 	Soo Eagles (NAHL) 	Soo Eagles (NAHL) 	Soo Eagles (NAHL) 	Soo Eagles (NAHL) 	
2012–13 	60 	41 	14 	5 	87 	203 	152 	992 	1st, North 	Won Div. Semifinal, 3-0 vs. Port Huron Fighting FalconsLost Div. Finals, 0-3 vs. Jamestown Ironmen 	
2013–14 	60 	25 	27 	8 	58 	149 	187 	970 	6th of 6, North18th of 24, NAHL 	Did not qualify 	
2014–15 	60 	31 	25 	4 	66 	182 	185 	1248 	3rd of 6, North18th of 24, NAHL 	Won First Round Series, 3-0 vs. Keystone Ice MinersLost Quarterfinals, 1-3 vs. Janesville Jets 	
Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	Soo Eagles (NOJHL) 	
2015–16 	54 	22 	30 	2 	46 	182 	197 	725 	4th of 6, West8th of 12, NOJHL 	Won Div. Play-in Series, 2-0 vs. Espanola ExpressLost Div. Semifinals, 0-4 vs. Soo Thunderbirds 	
Season 	GP 	W 	L 	OL 	T 	PTS 	GF 	GA 	Result 	Playoffs 	
2016-17 	56 	27 	26 	2 	1 	57 	222 	204 	4th of 6, West;8th of 12 NOJHL 	W, Prelim. 2-1 Elliot Lake WildcatsW, Div Semifinals 4-0 Soo ThunderbirdsL Div Final 1-4 Blind River Beavers	
2017-18 	56 	35 	20 	0 	1 	71 	222 	147 	3rd of 6, West;5th of 12 NOJHL 	L, Div Semifinals 3-4 Soo Thunderbirds 	
2018-19 	56 	28 	24 	1 	3 	60 	208 	185 	3rd of 6, West;8th of 12 NOJHL 	L, Div Semifinals 3-4 Rayside-Balfour Canadians 	
2019-20 	56 	30 	21 	3 	2 	65 	185 	171 	4th West 	Won Preliminary Round and then playoffs are cancelled 	
2020–21 	- 	- 	- 	— 	- 	- 	- 	- 	Withdrew from season due to the COVID-19 pandemic	Withdrew from season due to the COVID-19 pandemic 	
2021–22 	48 	33 	11 	4 	70 	178 	148 	535 	2nd of 6, West4th of 12, NOJHL 	Won Div. Semifinals, 4-2 Greater Sudbury CubsLost Div. Finals 0-4 Soo Thunderbirds 	
2022–23 	58 	26 	27 	5 	57 	206 	212 	808 	5th of 6, West8th of 12, NOJHL 	Did Not Qualify for Post Season 	
2023–24 	48 	33 	22 	3 	69 	231 	202 	832 	2nd of 6, West8th of 12, NOJHL 	Did Not Qualify for Post Season 	
===Original Screaming Eagles teams===
Season 	GP	W 	L 	T	OTL	GF 	GA 	P 	Results 	Playoffs
1962-63	40	25	14	1	- 	197	143	51	2nd NOJHL	Won League
1963-64	40	25	14	1	- 	216	157	51	3rd NOJHL	Lost Semi-final
1964-65	40	22	17	1	- 	185	195	45	3rd NOJHL	Lost Semi-final
1965-66	40	21	19	0	- 	227	221	42	4th NOJHL	Lost Semi-final
1966-67	40	3 	37	0	- 	121	355	6 	5th NOJHL	DNQ
1967-68	40	9 	30	1	- 	139	226	19	5th NOJHL	DNQ
1968-69	48	9 	37	2	- 	147	285	20	5th NOJHL	DNQ
1969-70	48	16	30	2	- 	215	265	34	4th NOJHL	Lost Semi-final
1970-71	48	10	36	2	- 	154	317	22	5th NOJHL	DNQ
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
1978-79	40	5 	35	0	- 	-- 	-- 	10	6th NOJHL	
1979-80	40	4 	34	2	- 	203	383	10	6th NOJHL	
1980-81	40	15	20	5	- 	222	282	35	4th NOJHL	
1981-82	42	14	27	1	- 	207	251	29	7th NOJHL	
1982-83	42	21	19	2	- 	234	250	44	4th NOJHL	
1983-84	40	4 	32	4	- 	211	430	10	6th NOJHL	
1984-85	40	8 	28	4	- 	221	377	20	6th NOJHL	
1985-86	41	8 	33	0	- 	211	446	16	7th NOJHL	
1986-87	37	4 	31	2	- 	169	316	10	4th NOJHL	
1987-88	39	6 	31	2	- 	172	315	14	5th NOJHL	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
1991-92	48	10	37	1	- 	177	371	21	6th NOJHL	
1992-93	48	11	37	0	- 	163	345	22	6th NOJHL	
1993-94	40	23	16	1	- 	272	206	47	2nd NOJHL	
1994-95	48	6 	39	3	- 	173	389	15	7th NOJHL	
==References==
==External links==
*Soo Eagles webpage
*Eagles old Webpage
Category:Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League teams
Category:American ice hockey teams
Category:Established in 1998
Category:North American Hockey League team