Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
The first-place Soo Thunderbirds continued their strong Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) campaign on Friday, October 24, earning a 7-2 road victory over the tenth-place Elliot Lake Vikings in Elliot Lake.
After a scoreless opening period, the Thunderbirds erupted for five goals in the second before adding two more in the third. Nicholas Carlson scored twice, while Frankie Reda recorded a four-point performance with two goals and two assists to help lead the Soo offence.
Scoreless First Period
The Thunderbirds and Vikings played through a scoreless opening period, with neither team finding the back of the net. However, the Soo offence came alive in the second period, setting the tone for the remainder of the contest.
Thunderbirds Explode for Five Goals in the Second
The Soo opened the scoring just 2:37 into the second period when Nicholas Carlson netted his eighth goal of the season. Frankie Reda and Shea Chornley collected the assists to give the Thunderbirds a 1-0 lead.
Less than two minutes later, Felix Sapay doubled the advantage, scoring his fifth goal of the season at 4:36. Vincent Bondy and Landon Hill assisted on the power-play marker, putting the Soo ahead 2-0.
Carlson struck again at 9:30, recording his second goal of the game and ninth of the season. Chornley picked up his second assist of the night, while Makks Demidovich also contributed to the scoring play as the Thunderbirds extended their lead to 3-0.
Just 26 seconds later, Madden Glavota made it 4-0. Glavota scored his third goal of the season at 9:56, with Reda and Andrew Warne earning the assists.
The Thunderbirds added one more before the second-period horn. Adam Pszeniczny scored his 11th goal of the season at 18:17, finishing a play set up by Gavin Killoran and Dreyon Boissoneau to give the Soo a commanding 5-0 advantage heading into the third.
Reda Delivers Two Goals in the Third
The Thunderbirds carried their offensive momentum into the final frame.
At 3:08, Frankie Reda scored his fifth goal of the season to extend the Soo lead to 6-0. Warne and Pszeniczny assisted on the goal.
Reda found the back of the net again at 10:48, recording his sixth goal of the season and completing a four-point night. Carlson and Chornley collected the assists as the Thunderbirds built a 7-0 lead.
Elliot Lake responded at 12:57 when Armando Rojo Bolton scored his fourth goal of the season unassisted, getting the Vikings on the scoreboard.
The Vikings added a late goal with just 10 seconds remaining in regulation. Tanner Dumont scored his first goal of the season at 19:50, with Landen Lake-Rego picking up the assist to make the final score 7-2 in favour of the Soo.
Maguire Makes 17 Saves in Thunderbirds Victory
Soo goaltender Nathan Maguire turned aside 17 of the 19 shots he faced to earn the victory.
At the other end, Elliot Lake’s Jacob Kirstein and William Ross combined to stop 42 of 49 shots as the Thunderbirds generated plenty of offensive pressure throughout the contest.
The Soo finished with seven goals on 49 shots, while the Vikings managed two goals on 19 shots.
Thunderbirds Prepare for Tuesday’s Road Test
With the victory, the first-place Soo Thunderbirds will now turn their attention to another road matchup against the seventh-place Blind River Beavers.
The two NOJHL clubs are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m. in Blind River as the Thunderbirds look to carry their offensive momentum into their next contest.
