NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release Date: Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012
Thunderbirds edge Trappers to regain top spot in NOJHL standings
SAULT STE. MARIE – An Adam Ritchie power play goal late in the second period proved to be the game-winner as the Soo Thunderbirds edged the North Bay Trappers 3-2 Sunday afternoon in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Essar Centre.
Special teams saw the T-Birds take a 1-0 lead after one period of play as Darcy Casola struck shorthanded 2:13 into the contest beating North Bay netminder Greg Dodds.
The score stayed that way until the late stages of the middle frame when Brandon Warmington connected at 17:38 to increase the Sault Ste. Marie cushion to a pair.
Then Ritchie’s man advantage marker with 18 seconds remaining in the session made it 3-0 after 40 minutes.
Dustin Hummel came in to replace Dodds, who incurred a game misconduct at the end of the second period, to start the third.
Brennen Dubchak notched a power play tally early in the stanza to get the Trappers on the board.
Justin Schneeberger pulled North Bay to within one with 3:52 to go in regulation, but that turned out to be the end of the offensive production in the contest.
Joel Horodziejczyk made 21 saves to register the victory for the Soo who moved back past the Trappers back into first place in the league standings with a 13-1-1-2 record while running a winning streak to six straight.
Dodds suffered the loss for North Bay making 11 stops with Hummel turning aside all eight attempts he faced in relief as North Bay saw their record slip to 12-2-2-2 overall.