NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017
Soaring Thunderbirds run unbeaten streak to a dozen
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The Soaring Soo Thunderbirds won for an eighth time in as many starts in February and also remained unbeaten in a dozen consecutive outings as they blanked the Elliot Lake Wildcats 4-0 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at the John Rhodes Community Centre.
Sault Ste. Marie started quickly getting the eventual game-winner from Sean Emmerson before the contest was three minutes old.
Gage Stephney’s 13th added to the Soo lead at 16:04 as they took a 2-0 cushion into the middle session.
Second period play saw Austin Kozluk connect during a man advantage opportunity as the Thunderbirds forward tallied for a sixth straight game and extended a consecutive game point streak to eight in the process.
Kozluk also has points in 14 of his past 15 outings.
Stephney’s second of the night seven and half minutes into the third rounded out the scoring.
Kaidan McDonald also chipped in for the Thunderbirds by doling out three assists.
Brandon Gordon turned aside all 20 shots he faced to post his NOJHL-leading fifth shutout of the season as the Soo now has 11 wins and a tie in their last 12 games.
Justin Richer started for Elliot Lake and suffered the loss allowing two against on 14 attempts while Matt Kostiw handled 24 of 26 in nearly 44 minutes of relief.
Photos by James Egan’s Sports Photography
