GALLERY: Kovacs’ hat trick helps Thunderbirds begin road trip with win over Gold Miners

KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – Jacob Kovacs scored three times to record his first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League hat trick in propelling the Soo Thunderbirds to a 6-2 triumph over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Friday at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.

Beginning a three-game weekend road trip, the visiting Thunderbirds kicked off the night’s scoring 11:55 into the contest as Mackenzie Walkington collected his sixth of the season with Warner Young and Avery Rebek picking up the assists.

Kirkland Lake countered two and a half minutes later to knot the affair at 1-1 with Kyler Campbell also getting his sixth of the campaign.

Sault Ste. Marie went back on top in the back half of the second stanza when Kovacs put in his 13th of the year at 11:36.

They then added another a couple of shifts later as Will Josephson put the Thunderbirds up by two.

Not down there, the Soo struck once more with Kovacs picking up his second of the night at 15:27.

Josephson tacked on another moments into the third to make it 5-1 for the guests while Lucas Renzoni got one back for the Gold Miners at 2:07.

In the end, Kovacs capped off the scoring at 16:25 to finish off his three-goal night and register his 15th overall.

Shots on net favoured the Soo by a 41-35 count with Dakota Meyer picking up the win while Kohl Reddy suffered the loss.

Game Photos courtesy of  CapturingTheMoment.ca