NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release Date: Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012
Thunderbirds rally to win OT thriller
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A Fraser Turner goal 2:56 into overtime lifted the Soo Thunderbirds to a 5-4 victory over the North Bay Trappers in a fast-paced Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League first place showdown Sunday afternoon at Essar Centre.
Adam Ritchie opened the scoring for the home side midway through the opening period only to see Eric Samtleben level the proceedings on a late power play effort.
North Bay grabbed a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes with Joe Echelmeier and Brandon Janke striking for the Trappers and Daniel Pymaki countering for the Thunderbirds.
The visitors took a two-goal lead early in the final frame thanks to Trevor Hunt only to see the Soo answer back courtesy of tallies by Greg Sartoretto and Darcy Casola, with a man advantage marker, to force OT.
After successfully killing off a penalty the first 1:56 into the extra session the T-Birds Sartoretto picked up a loose puck behind the net and fed a wide-open Turner in front who calmly lifted the puck over North Bay netminder Greg Dodds shoulder into the top right hand corner for the game-winner.
Steven Dombrowski turned in a 24-save performance to register the victory for the Soo who gained sole possession of first place in the NOJHL standings, one point clear of the Trappers moving to 9-1-1-2.
North Bay slipped to 8-1-2-2 with the setback as Dodds faced 23 shots in defeat.
League play resumes Wednesday as the Sudbury Nickel Barons host the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners as McClelland Arena.
Game time is 7:30 p.m.
