NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, March 4, 2016
Gordon posts 3rd shutout as Thunderbirds blank Eagles
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Brendon Gordon turned aside all 18 attempts he faced to record his third Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League shutout backstopping the Soo Thunderbirds to a 4-0 victory over the rival Soo Eagles in front of over 1,000 fans at packed Pullar Stadium.
It was the visitors who would spoil the show for the hosts early as the Thunderbirds grabbed a 2-0 lead after one period of play.
Veteran T-Birds forward Matt Pinder notched the eventual game-winner 5:25 in as he collected his 20th tally of the campaign during a man advantage opportunity.
They added to their cushion just over nine minutes later as Brandon Grandinetti finished off a Joey Miller feed.
The Thunderbirds then struck late in the middle stanza to go up by three as Miller and Matthew Mitchell drew assists on defenceman Aidan Salerno’s fourth of the campaign with 22 seconds remaining in the frame.
Rookie Ryan Mulligan finished off the scoring for the T-Birds 2:08 into the third as his sixth goal in 2015-16 was an insurance marker in the win.
Drake Pilon joined Miller with two helpers apiece in the Thunderbirds triumph.
Cam Bruggrabe was kept busy throughout the night in the Eagles net as he was peppered with 50 shots in defeat.
