Photos: Northern Exposures Photography
ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – An early second period marker from Youssef Chaouachi held up as the game-winner as the Soo Thunderbirds went on to double-up the Elliot Lake Red Wings 4-2 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Friday at Centennial Arena.
After being shutout by Elliot Lake on Wednesday, Sault Ste. Marie needed just five and a half minutes to get on the board in this one as Michael Chaffay neatly redirected, out of mid-air, a Kolby Fellinger attempt from the left point that got by netminder Cameron Smith.
It was more from the Thunderbirds later in the period as Jackson Truchan slammed in a rebound off an Austin Fellinger shot from the right side during a Soo power play.
Action in the middle stanza saw the visitors connect quickly as Chaouachi fired a low shot through the legs of Smith just 21 seconds in.
The Red Wings did cut into the deficit five minutes later as they kept a play in the Thunderbirds’ zone and saw Charlie Wesholowski convert with a quick shot from wide angle on the right side that appeared to catch Soo starter Landon Miller off-guard.
Staying 3-1 Soo into the third, Elliot Lake got their goalkeeper out with two and half minutes left for an extra attacker, but Austin Fellinger picked off a play in his own zone and went down and scored his first NOJHL tally into an empty net.
Undaunted, the Red Wings answered right after that though as Thomas Dimoulas banked one in from the left of Miller.
However, that’s as close as the hosts would get as the Soo skated away with the victory and saw Miller win for the fifth time in as many appearances.
