Soo Thunderbirds 6, Soo Eagles 3 – Saturday, September 12, 2015
The Soo Thunderbirds scored three unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the Soo Eagles 6-3 Saturday evening in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter at Pullar Stadium.
It was the Eagles who soared early grabbing a 2-0 lead before the contest was 70 seconds old thanks to Landon Hubbard and Jacob Hernandez.
Battling back the Thunderbirds added two of their own before the opening stanza was complete on Drake Pilon’s first NOJHL goal at 10:40 followed by a Matt Pinder effort 17 seconds later.
The Eagles’ Trevor Jestadt then notched his initial league tally at 2:33 of the second before Nathan Hebert answered that for the T-Birds as the two sides hit the second intermission tied at 3-3.
A Caleb Boman power play marker 2:57 into the third gave the visitors their first lead of the evening in what turned out to be the game-winner.
Sault Ste. Marie captain Brett Jeffries added to the Thunderbirds lead with 13:37 remaining before Matthew Murray wrapped up the night’s scoring with a power play goal at 16:52.
Brendan Gordon faced 14 shots in picking up his first NOJHL win for the Thunderbirds while Jack Deines saw 49 pucks fired his way in defeat for the Eagles.
Soo Thunderbirds 5, Soo Eagles 2 – Friday, September 11, 2015
The defending Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League champion Soo Thunderbirds got goals from five different players en route to a 5-2 triumph over the rival Soo Eagles Friday evening at Essar Centre.
The Thunderbirds got off to a good start grabbing a 2-0 lead after one period of play on markers by Matthew Pinder and newcomer Ryan Mulligan.
It was the Eagles who got back into it 3:17 into the middle session as Jake Palmerio converted on a penalty shot.
Jaren Bellini put the home side back up a pair at 14:21 only to see the Eagles answer back just 28 seconds later on a Nate Harris effort.
Veteran Thunderbirds forward Joey Miller then countered the Harris marker with his first of the season before the second was complete.
A Caleb Bowman power play tally in the third rounded out the night’s scoring.
Darian Pilon dished out three assists in the NOJHL debut for the T-Birds.
Nathan Warren made 21 saves in the debut to pick up the win while Jack Hickey finished with 28 stops in defeat.
