SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – A pair of second period markers helped the Soo Thunderbirds answer back from an early deficit and skate to an eventual 3-1 win over the Soo Eagles in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League meeting Friday at Pullar Stadium.
The hometown Eagles got the night’s initial tally in the back half of the first period as Coby Fox made a dash down the right side into Thunderbirds’ territory and fed Kenny Belanger Jr., in the slot, who fired a shot over the blocker of goaltender Noah Zeppa, who was making his return to the NOJHL, following a 15-win season win the T-Birds in 2021-22.
Returning to the Thunderbirds’ lineup for his first game since November 19, Jackson Truchan tied it 12 minutes into the second stanza as he came down the right wing and put one through Reid Ramsay in the Eagles’ net.
The marker also saw him register at least one point in each of his past nine games played.
Building on that a couple of shifts later, the visitors took the lead when Tyler Boudreau was allowed to skate in unchecked through the right circle and whip one by Ramsay for his second of the year.
Holding their narrow lead until deep into the third period, the visiting side iced it as some pressure in the Eagles’ end allowed Dharhan Cap to round out the road victory with an empty netter at 18:25.
The result gives the Thunderbirds a fifth straight win and improve to 19-9-2-1 on the season.
In defeat the Eagles saw their record fall to 15-12-2-0 overall.
