SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – Brock Santa Maria had the eventual game-winner early in the second period as the Soo Thunderbirds went on to defeat the rival Soo Eagles 4-1 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League rivalry match-up Saturday at the John Rhodes Community Centre.
The Thunderbirds opened the scoring five and a half minutes into the contest when rookie defenceman Warner Young notched his first NOJHL goal.
They went up a pair 3:38 into the middle stanza on Santa Maria’s strike, which proved to be the difference maker.
The guests did counter a couple of shifts later on Dominic Skrelja’s 15th of the year.
Back and forth they went with the home side getting that back just over a minute later on a Tyler Savard effort.
The Thunderbirds then added to their lead in the final frame with Colton Hayes adding some insurance in rounding out the night’s scoring.
Rylan Clemons dished out two assists giving him five points in his first two league contests for the Ontario Soo.
Shots on goal favoured the Thunderbirds 38-36 with Dakota Meyer picking up the win while Shane Brancato suffered the defeat.
Game Photos courtesy of Bob Davies
