Photos: Northern Exposures Photography
ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – A pair of late Jackson Truchan man advantage markers broke open a tie game and lifted the Soo Thunderbirds to an eventual 5-2 victory over the Elliot Lake Red Wings in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up Friday at Centennial Arena.
Sault Ste. Marie began the scoring moments after the initial mid-period break.
On the play, the Thunderbirds’ Dharan Cap controlled the draw then saw him deflect a Youssef Chaouachi attempt from the right side that went high past Elliot Lake starter Sean Guerin.
Countering with an equalizer just seconds before the end of the first period, the Red Wings used some solid cycle work in the Soo end with Sam Noad eventually firing a cross-crease feed that was buried by Alex Antoine at 19:54.
Moving to the second stanza, the T-Birds regained the lead as Kolby Fellinger got by a number of defenders and skated down the left side and roofed one from a sharp angle.
Elliot Lake had an answer once more a few minutes later as Zachary Vickerman swooped in and collected a loose puck on a delayed penalty and beat Soo netminder Kolton Bourret.
Heading to final few minutes of the third period, Truchan got the game-winner at 16:52, during a two-man advantage, as he whipped one in, short-side-blocker, from the left of Guerin.
Still on the power play, Jackson struck again as he came in unmarked off to the side and guided in a Brock Santa Maria set-up with 1:55 remaining.
Michael Chaffay then secured the result with an empty netter to complete the night’s scoring.
With the win, the Soo moves to 26-10-2-1 overall, while the Red Wings dropped to 12-23-1-2.