SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – Joe Benedetto was called upon to make 33 saves and he stopped all of them as the Soo Eagles shut out the rival Soo Thunderbirds 4-0 in a rough and tumble Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League preseason match-up Friday at John Rhodes Community Centre.
Mihali See picked up the eventual game-winner for the Eagles 15:41 into the contest as he connected on a man advantage chance.
The visitors picked up another extra man marker 32 seconds into the middle frame to go up by a pair as Brendan Blair finished off the work of teammates Mike Butcher and Drew Wotta.
With a steady parade to the penalty box for both sides in the third the Eagles did add goals Wotta and Lucas Rothe to round out the scoring.
While Benedetto made his 33 saves to record the win, Colin Ahern allowed four against on 38 attempts in defeat for the Thunderbirds.
Game photos courtesy of Rod Aubertin
