Game Photos: Rob Horn
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – A three-goal third period, including a shorthanded breakaway marker from Tyson Doucette, was the difference as the Soo Thunderbirds went on to clip the Soo Egles 5-2 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest Friday at Pullar Stadium.
The visiting Thunderbirds got on the board seven and a half minutes into the proceedings when Kenny Belanger Jr., knocked in a backhand following a Colby Arbour shot on net from the left side.
Countering with the equalizer quickly, the Eagles drew level at 8:34 as Trevor Davis kept the play onside at the point and got it in front to Nicholas Castillo who took the puck to his right and tucked it past the outstretched pad of Noah Metivier to tie it.
Going back in front early in the middle session, the Thunderbirds broke out on a three-on-two and saw Brock Santa Maria make a perfect cross-ice pass right to Kelsey Oullet, who zipped a shot past Eagles netminder Ryan Gilmore from just inside the left face-off circle.
Evening things up once more, the hosts drew level when Hayden Daca went upstairs with a rising wrist shot at 15:52 to send the clubs to the second intermission knotted at 202.
In the third though, Doucette broke the deadlock for the final time as he darted down the ice on his shorthanded break and made no mistake by using a couple of nifty dekes before finally cutting left and stuffing in the decider past Gilmore for the eventual game-winner.
The Thunderbirds’ Cooper Foster added another for the guests moments later as he came in on and two-on-one and went upstairs with a shot.
Arbour then capped off the road victory, via the power play, off a double deflection, that hit Dharan Cap initially from a Ouellet attempt from the left circle.
Metivier was busy, making 38 saves to pick-up the win while Gilmore faced 34 shots against in a losing cause.
VIDEO “Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel
