NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015
Thunderbirds tame Wildcats
ELLIOT LAKE – Anthony Miller had a hat trick while Nathan Hebert tallied twice and set-up another to help lead the Soo Thunderbirds to a 5-2 victory over the Elliot Lake Wildcats in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Sunday evening at Centennial Arena.
The T-Birds jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead after one period of play thanks to efforts by Miller and Hebert before the contest was two minutes old.
Elliot Lake battled back to pull even early in the middle session on a pair of markers by Adam Baxter.
Hebert put Sault Ste. Marie back in from for good with 12:46 left in the second as he put home the eventual game-winner.
Miller made it 4-2 with 74 seconds to go in the frame as the Thunderbirds took a two-goal lead into the final frame.
Miller then capped off his night with an empty netter in the late going to round out the scoring.
Matt Caruso, Eric Hillock and Nicolas Sicoli and Nicolas Tassone all chipped in with two assists apiece for the T-Birds.
Cole Hepler had a couple of helpers for the Wildcats.
Mario Culina made 16 stops to register the decision for the Soo while A.J. Smith had 32 saves in defeat for Elliot Lake.
NOJHL actions resumes Tuesday as the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners host the Abitibi Eskimos in a 7:30 p.m. start at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
