NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013
Thunderbirds win 12th straight
THESSALON – The front runners in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League continued their torrid play as the Soo Thunderbirds extended their winning streak to 12 consecutive games, as they rolled over the Blind River Beavers 9-1 Saturday in a neutral site affair held at the Thessalon Community Centre.
The trio of Jaren Bellini, Anthony Miller and Darcy Haines all registered three points apiece in the lopsided win for the league-leading T-Birds.
Sault Ste. Marie jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one period of play on goals by Haines, Nicolas Tassone and Joey Miller.
Then they made it 8-1 after 40 minutes with Jeffries, Anthony Miller, Bellini, Haines and Eric Hillock striking for the Soo with Nick Trecroce adding the lone marker for Blind River.
Haines then capped off the night’s scoring with a man advantage effort 11 minutes into the third to complete a hat-trick on a night he also extended a personal point streak to 13 games in succession.
Anthony Butorac chipped in with a couple of assists for Sault Ste. Marie.
Joel Horodzieczyk turned aside 24 of 25 attempts he faced to win his 16th consecutive start for the Thunderbirds who fired 36 pucks on both Dylan Knox and Jessie Morin, who both saw time in the Beavers net in the loss.
The league now enters its holiday break with game action set to resume Jan. 3.
The NOJHL will however have a select squad competing in the Central Canada Cup Challenge Dec. 27-29 in Terrebonne, Que., against completion from the Ontario Jr., Central Canada and Quebec AAA Jr. Hockey Leagues.
