NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015
Thunderbirds too much for Beavers
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The Soo Thunderbirds used a well-balanced attack getting points from a dozen different skaters as they defeated the Blind River Beavers 8-2 Wednesday night in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up held at Essar Centre.
Sault Ste. Marie was quick to jump on newcomer Matt Blattenberger, who was making his NOJHL debut in net for Blind River, as Ryan Mulligan scored 19 seconds into the contest.
Drake Pilon made it 2-0 T-Birds in the latter stages of the opening frame as he connected during a man advantage opportunity.
The Beavers got one back 2:24 into the middle session as Ted Davis beat T-Birds starter Nathan Warren.
It was all Thunderbirds the remainder of the second stanza as they pumped 32 shots on Blattenberger and were rewarded with tallies from Matthew Mitchell and Matt Pinder to go up 4-1 after 40 minutes.
Martin Miloslavich came in and played the final period for Blind River.
A Zach Senecal power play marker eight and half minutes into the third made 5-1 Soo while Matthew Busby picked up one at even strength 64 seconds later as the T-Birds took full control of the contest.
Alex Dajia scored for the Beavers unassisted with 8:56 to go for his fourth of the season before Pinder wrapped things up offensively on this night with four minutes remaining to round out the scoring.
Brett Jeffries dished out three assists for the Thunderbirds in the win with teammates Darian Pilon and Mark Tassone supplying two helpers apiece.
Warren only had to face 11 shots in recording his league-leading 14th victory of the campaign.
Blattenberger suffered the loss facing 48 shots in two periods of work while Miloslavich stopped seven of 10 in relief.
