NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release Date: Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013
Nickel Barons win 8th straight while Thunderbirds move back into share of first
SUDBURY – Action in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Saturday saw the Sudbury Nickel Barons continue their winnings ways defeating the Blind River Beavers while the Soo Thunderbirds moved back into a first place tie in the overall standings by virtue of a road triumph over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.
SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS 4 BLIND RIVER BEAVERS 2 – Sudbury skated to win No. 8 in succession rallying from a two-goal deficit to upend Blind River.
Following a scoreless opening session the Beavers grabbed a 2-0 lead late into the middle frame on markers by Tyler Shanush and Cray Roberge.
However 49 seconds after Roberge’s effort the Nickel Barons cut into the lead thanks to Brett Busick who countered at 17:34.
Martin Jolicoeur then levelled the proceedings a half minute into the third period and then struck again at 6:22 burying the eventual game-winner.
Sebastien Leroux then iced it with a late power play tally into an empty net to round out the scoring.
The Nickel Barons improved to 21-11 on the year with the win that saw Alex Laino finish up with 38 saves in backstopping his side to victory.
Sudbury is now six points out our first with their seconds eight-game winning streak of the season.
Brock Crossthwaite faced 41 shots in a losing cause for Blind River who fell to 8-19-2-4.
SOO THUNDERBIRDS 4 KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS 2 – Sault Ste. Marie bounced back twice being down a goal as they picked up the road win at Kirkland Lake.
Daniel Morin staked the Gold Miners to the early lead as he converted on a man advantage opportunity only to see Tyler Jones notch the equalizer before the opening period was complete.
Ryan Scherer put Kirkland Lake back on top in the second, but the Thunderbirds struck twice in the in the waning seconds on the stanza courtesy of Anthony Miller on the power play at 19:48 and Nicholas Pastorious with just one second remaining in the frame.
Adam Ritchie wrapped up the night’s scoring burying a shorthanded effort with 6:50 to go.
Joel Horodziejczyk had 23 stops to pick up the victory helping the T-Birds improve to 20-5-3-3 and move into a tie for first place with North Bay at 46 points apiece.
Chris Komma faced 26 attempts in defeat for the Gold Miners who dropped their fourth straight this month while falling to 16-15-2-1 overall.
Weekly play in the NOJHL concludes with a Sunday matinee in North Bay as the hometown Trappers host the Thunderbirds in a first place showdown, which gets underway at 2 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.
