Photos: SAULTSports
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A six-goal, second period outburst was more than enough to send the Soo Thunderbirds on their way to a convincing 10-2 triumph over their cross-border rival Soo Eagles Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at John Rhodes Community Centre.
The Thunderbirds caught a break to open the scoring 16 minutes into the proceedings on a play that saw Wyatt Marlow put a backhand towards the net that hit the stick of an Eagles’ defender and slide through the legs of goalkeeper Logan Raffaele.
Chase Tallaire had a great chance to draw the visitors even before the intermission as he was sent in alone on a breakaway, only to be denied by the pad of T-Birds netminder Kolton Bourret.
A frenzied second stanza saw the clubs erupt for eight goals, including the six-spot racked up by the Thunderbirds.
Jack Paweski did tie it early for the Eagles as he went in on a break and beat Bourret.
Answering right back though, Daniel Beaupre was credited with finishing off a goal-mouth scramble.
Countering once more, the Eagles made it 2-2 off an odd-man rush and saw Brian Fiddes snap in a rebound off a Tallaire opportunity.
Responding, the Thunderbirds then struck five times to make it 7-2 following 40 minutes of play spell an early-end to Raffaele’s night in favour of back-up Reid Ramsay.
After Marlow potted his second of the evening, Justin Mauro made 4-2 at 12:48 as he buried one following a faceoff win.
Adding to the offensive barrage, Samuel Lake was left free in front and had ample time to convert from close range.
The onslaught continued with Brock Santa Maria striking a minute and a half later as eased a chance into the open side before Beaupre completed the period by connecting on the power play and finishing off some crisp passing by the hosts.
In the third, Marlow completed his hat trick by knocking in a loose by a sprawling Ramsay at 6:13.
A seventh-straight Thunderbirds goal came about as Youssef Chaouachi zipped in a wrister from between the circles while his side was up a skater.
Lake then completed the one-sided result in the late going with another power play marker with a quick shot from the right of Ramsay, who had little chance on the night’s final marker.
With the result, the Thunderbirds won for third straight time and improved to 17-9-2-1 on the season while the Eagles fell 12-11-2-0.
