Photo: Matt Stefano
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A Kaden Dundas power play marker 13 and a half minutes into the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Soo Thunderbirds went on to defeat the French River Rapids 3-1 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest Friday night at John Rhodes Community Centre.
The Thunderbirds needed just 90 seconds to open the night’s scoring as Ethan Novello buried a feed in the slot that came out of the corner for his first goal since back on November 21, 2020.
Skating four-on-three, early in the middle session, French River capitalized off a scrum along the side boards before working the puck free and setting up Matthew Campanella, who got to the net and slammed in his initial NOJHL tally, in beating Sault Ste. Marie starter Kolton Bourret.
Regaining the lead in the back half of the period, Dundas was allowed to move in from the left point during a power play and used the extra space to go top shelf on Rapids’ netminder Ben Gustafson.
The Soo then secured the home ice victory in the final minute of regulation as Ethan Raduy calmly slid one into an empty net from just inside the French Rive blueline.
