SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – For a second straight day, the Soo Thunderbirds played in another one-goal game with the Soo Eagles, and went on to win the latest meeting, by a 4-3 count, Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League preseason action at John Rhodes Community Centre.
The hometown Thunderbirds came out quickly, skating to a 2-0 lead after one period of play on markers from Brock Santa Maria and Tyler Dunbar.
Jacob Kovacs then made it 3-0 for the hosts in the opening shift of the second stanza as they extended their lead.
Battling back, the Eagles struck twice before the session was complete to pull to within one on tallies by Kyle Portlock and Caleb Wood.
Kovacs added his second of the evening midway through the third as he picked up a power play marker to double the Thunderbirds lead.
The visitors did get one back, while up a skater, in the final moments of regulation before time ran out to wrap things up.
Thunderbirds goaltender Dakota Meyer was busy on the night, making 43 saves in earning the win.
Ryan Gilmore stopped 13 of 17 in just over 30 minutes of work while Shane Brancato entered for the Eagles midway through and handled all nine attempts fired his way.
Game Photos courtesy of Bob Davies
