SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – Lucas Theriault tallied twice and added two assists to help the Soo Thunderbirds defeat the rival Soo Eagles 7-5 Friday night in a high-scoring Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair at John Rhodes Community Centre.
Both clubs clicked offensively in the first period netting a pair of markers apiece with Caleb Wood collecting his first two tallies of the season for the Eagles while Jonathan Mackin and Tyler Malpass converted for the Thunderbirds.
Action in the middle session saw plenty more goal output with the home side striking four times in the frame while the visitors had two of their own.
After Theriault put the Thunderbirds up 3-2 at 7:25 of the second, the Eagles’ Riley Jensen matched that just over a minute later to tie things once more.
However Theriault scored again 80 seconds after that to restore the lead for the Ontario Soo.
The back and forth affair saw Mihali See even the score for the Eagles at 16:45, but Noah Boman’s first a mere 11 seconds after that sent the Thunderbirds into the lead for good.
Teammate Kaidan McDonald then buried a Boman feed in the final moments of the stanza as the Thunderbirds carried a two-goal cushion into the third.
The hosts continued to soar in the third with Nolan Ford making it 7-4 just 1:20 in.
Jensen’s second of the night with 6:48 remaining did bring the Eagles closer in what turned out to be the evening’s final marker.
Boman and Nick Smith joined Theriault with two assists in the triumph with Matt Capisciolto and Brandan Blair had a pair each for the Eagles.
Colin Ahern faced 28 attempts against to record the win in his debut.
Joseph Benedetto saw 30 pucks fired his way in defeat for the Eagles in just over 42 minutes of work while Caleb Sawyer handled both attempts he saw in third period relief.
Game Photos courtesy of Rod Aubertin
