Photos: Bob Davies
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The Soo Thunderbirds got a goal and two assists from Daniel Beaupre Wednesday night to help them fly past the Elliot Lake Red Wings 6-1 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at John Rhodes Community Centre.
Getting on the board first, Sault Ste. Marie’s Dharan Cap managed to jam one in while a swarm of skaters congregated in the Elliot Lake crease at 7:45 of the first period, with help from Jackson Truchan and Kolby Fellinger.
The assist for Truchan now sees him having points in each of the past 10 games he has participated in, while Cap, in turn, extended a point streak to six in succession.
Coming right back, the Thunderbirds made 2-0 a couple of shifts later with Ethan Novello snagging a loose puck behind the net and cutting out in front where he tucked in a backhand into the open corner before Elliot Lake netminder Sean Guerin could get across his crease to keep it out.
The home side kept coming and added a third marker before the intermission as Beaupre dipped around a Red Wings’ defender before driving to the net and neatly tucking one between the legs of Guerin.
After Elliot Lake back-up Cameron Smith entered the game to begin the second stanza, the Soo eventually solved him at 12:53 of the frame.
It came off some nice cycle work in the corner that saw Beaupre shovel a pass out to Samuel Lake, who whipped in a one-timer from the slot.
Continuing to press, the Thunderbirds tacked on another before the end of the session as Beaupre collected his third point of the evening as he found Austin Fellinger driving to the net, where he snapped a shot by Smith.
Putting the game out of reach early in the third, the Soo’s Brodie McConnell-Barker flipped one from left point that found its way in.
Adding an assist was Brock Santa Maria, who in turn saw him register a point for a sixth straight outing.
The Red Wings did get on the board, while on a man advantage, as Thomas Dimoulas clicked from close range in beating T-Birds goalkeeper Kolton Bourret at 3:59 for his 12th tally of the season.
That would proved to be the final goal of the game after Truchan was denied by Smith on a penalty shot three minutes later.
The triumph for Bourret was the sixth win in a row for the rookie goalkeeper and saw theThunderbirds become the sixth NOJHL side to reach 20, or more, wins on the season as they raised their overall record to 20-9-2-1.
In defeat the Red Wings fell to 12-16-1-1.
