Thunderbirds, Gold Miners and Eskimos Friday winners

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Friday, Jan. 17, 2014

Thunderbirds, Gold Miners and Eskimos Friday winners

SUDBURY – A trio of Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contests Friday saw the Soo Thunderbirds come from behind to extend their lengthy winning streak defeating Sudbury, the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners shutting out the Blind River Beavers and the Abitibi Eskimos rally to edge the North Bay Trappers.

SOO THUNDERBIRDS 6 SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS 3 – Captain Gavin Burbach tallied twice and added an assist to help Sault Ste. Marie win their franchise-record 18th game in a row.

Joel Horodziejczyk had 27 saves to win his 20th straight start as well for the league-leading and No. 3 CJHL-ranked Thunderbirds, who have yet to lose on home ice in 2013-14 as well as their during their final three regular season home dates last season.

Sudbury saw a season-high winning streak snapped at three with the loss.

The Nickel Barons got off to a quick start jumping out to 2-0 lead early on goals by August Jarecki and Ryan Punkari.

Not to be deterred the T-Birds struck three times before the session was out to go up one after 20 minutes on efforts Owen Headrick, Jaren Bellini and Nicolas Tassone.

Burbach then connected shorthanded for the eventual game-winner late in the middle session making it 4-2 after 40 minutes.

Bradley Bell cut into the deficit eight minutes into the final frame, but the Soo wrapped things up on markers by Brett Jeffries and Burbach to complete the come from behind victory.

Darcy Haines dished out three assists to aid the Thunderbirds offensively.

Michael Muzyka faced 29 shots in defeat for the Nickel Barons.

KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS 5 BLIND RIVER BEAVERS 0 – Jeremy Pominville turned aside all 20 attempts he saw to register his second shutout of the season in the win over Blind River at The Joe.

After a scoreless opening period the Gold Miners took control in the second striking three times on goals by Andrew Bertrand, Austin Rust and Jeremy Picard-Fiset.

Rust and Picard-Fiset then tacked on additional tallies in the third to round out the night’s scoring.

Both skaters also picked up assists to go along with the three helpers picked up by Steven Babin to give the trio three points apiece in the triumph.

Jessie Morin saw 34 pucks fired his way in the Beavers net in suffering the loss.

ABITIBI ESKIMOS 4 NORTH BAY TRAPPERS 3 – Abitibi stormed back with three unanswered goals and they rallied to edge North Bay in a neutral site affair staged at McIntyre Arena in Timmins.

The Trappers used markers six minutes apart by Henry Yawit and Darian Skeoch to go up a pair after one period of play.

After Kealey Cummings cut into the deficit for the Eskimos 6:10 into the second stanza, Chance Thomas put North Bay back up a pair 124 seconds later.

Abitibi began their comeback getting efforts from Steven Petite and Ryan Tront before the session was done to level the proceedings entering the third.

It was there that Brady Clouthier notched the game-winner with 5:40 to go complete the Eskimos rally.

Brenden Locke set-up the deciding goal, which was one of three assists he had on the night.

Brody Wagner continued his stellar play for Abitibi winning his fifth straight start making 27 saves in the victory.

Evan Cormier saw 42 shots in defeat for the Trappers.

NOJHL play resumes Saturday with North Bay at Kirkland Lake, Abitibi at home to Blind River and Espanola paying a visit to Elliot Lake in a trio of 7:30 p.m. starts.