SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The Soo Thunderbirds picked up a pair of goals from Spencer Van Tiem to help lead them to a 4-1 triumph over the Espanola Express in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up Thursday held at GFL Memorial Gardens.
It didn’t take the Thunderbirds long to get on the board skating in their first contest of the season at GFL Gardens as Noah Boman put the home side in front 55 seconds after the opening face-off as he notched his 19th tally of the season.
The Soo then added to their lead near the midway point of the first frame thanks to Van Tiem as he collected his second of the campaign during a man advantage opportunity.
Battling back, the Express cut into the deficit by striking shorthanded with Mitchell Lee setting up Diego Pasula for a man-down effort at 12:18.
Action in the second period saw the Thunderbirds tally twice to go up 4-1 through two as Matthew Bazarin connected on the power play at 11:55 while Van Tiem tacked on another as his even strength effort extended the Soo lead two minutes after that.
Moving on to the third, neither side would not score before time expired as the Soo won for a NOJHL-best 29th time this season.
Shots on goal in the contest favoured the Thunderbirds by a 34-17 margin with Soo starter William Anderson picking up the victory while Espanola netminder Andrew Rocha suffered the defeat.
Game Photos courtesy of Rod Aubertin – SSM Photos
