NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Sept. 11, 2015
T-Birds top rival Eagles in season opener
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The defending Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League champion Soo Thunderbirds got goals from five different players en route to a 5-2 triumph over the rival Soo Eagles Friday evening at Essar Centre.
The Thunderbirds got off to a good start grabbing a 2-0 lead after one period of play on markers by Matthew Pinder and newcomer Ryan Mulligan.
It was the Eagles who got back into it 3:17 into the middle session as Jake Palmerio converted on a penalty shot.
Jaren Bellini put the home side back up a pair at 14:21 only to see the Eagles answer back just 28 seconds later on a Nate Harris effort.
Veteran Thunderbirds forward Joey Miller then countered the Harris marker with his first of the season before the second was complete.
A Caleb Bowman power play tally in the third rounded out the night’s scoring.
Darian Pilon dished out three assists in the NOJHL debut for the T-Birds.
Nathan Warren made 21 saves in the debut to pick up the win while Jack Hickey finished with 28 stops in defeat.
