Photos: Rod Turnbull
IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – Lucas Peever’s first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League goal, coming 11 seconds into overtime, helped the Iroquois Falls Storm rally for a 4-3 come from behind victory over the Soo Thunderbirds Friday night at Jus Jordan Arena.
The visiting Thunderbirds took flight by taking the lead 11 and a half minutes into things, thanks to a man advantage effort off the stick of Alex Remenda as he neatly steered in a Cole Power feed from in close on Storm starter Connor Dunham-Fox.
Up a skater themselves early in the middle frame, Iroquois Falls tied it off some crisp puck movement that was finished off by Alex Chewanish as he moved in from the left point and sizzled a shot past a screened Troy Rossetto in the Sault Ste. Marie net.
Answering back with two more power play efforts, the T-Birds went up 3-1 with markers 25 seconds apart.
Jackson Truchan notched the initial effort by banking one in from a sharp angle to the left of Dunham-Fox at 14:05.
Still on the PP, the Soo struck again when Remenda notched another by darting down the left wing, then driving to the net, where he tucked his chance past the outstretched pad of the Storm goaltender.
Getting one back in the waning moments of the second period, the home side pushed a play ahead up the side boards which allowed Lucas Peever to power his way up on a two-on-one, then saw him set-up Mathieu Roy driving to the net, who corralled the feed in close and lifted it over the blocker of Rossetto at 19:44.
Continuing to battle in the third, the Storm tied it via the power play at 9:14 thanks to Owen Cassidy’s initial league goal that saw him send a shot that clipped off a Soo skater and knuckled its way in from up high.
Heading to extra time, Peever won it moments in as he hammered home the game-winner from between the hash marks, on a one-timer off a Cassidy pass from the corner.
With the outcome, Iroquois Falls is now 2-0 to begin the year while the Thunderbirds are 1-1-1-0.
“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel
