Source: Freeze Frame Photos
The Soo Eagles saw Cooper Fredericks and Carson Doxsey both tally twice as part of a 7-2 victory over the Soo Thunderbirds in a mid-week Wednesday, December 11th Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at Pullar Stadium.
In renewing their cross-border rivalry, the visiting Thunderbirds needed just 48 seconds to open the scoring as a Gage Evans head-man pass sent Jonathan Sonedecker in alone on Eagles netminder Jace Knoerle where he ripped a shot into the right corner for his 10th marker of the season.
Skating in the 50th NOJHL game, Eagles defenceman Gabriel Clark notched his first league tally four minutes later to tie it as he snapped an attempt through traffic from the right point that got past a screened Thunderbirds’ starter Noah Metivier.
The home side then took the lead at 11:38 when Fredericks worked his way into the T-Birds zone, then while moving to the high slot, wired a wrister over the blocker of Metivier.
He, along with teammates Alex Povorozniouk and Lucas Caulfield, who collected assists on the play, saw the trio all extend point streaks to six in succession.
Adding another, Doxsey made it 3-1 for the hosts as he finished off an opportunity from between the circles.
Heading to the second stanza, the Thunderbirds pulled to within one, deep into the session, as Sonedecker raced in on a breakaway once more and roofed his chance over the shoulder of Knoerle at 16:12.
Answering that before the intermission, Doxsey collected his second of the night by chipping in a backhand after Metivier had denied the Eagles with a couple of sprawling saves moments before.
Moving to the final frame, the Michigan Soo put the game out of reach with a trio of man advantage efforts.
Anden Marceau began the outburst by jamming in a loose puck during an extended power play to make it 5-2.
The marker resulted in a goaltending change, with Lincoln Mellenthin entering in relief for the Thunderbirds.
Still up a skater, Fredericks hammered in a one-timer from the left circle off a cross-ice feed from Povorozniouk.
Then Benjamin Pouliot got a piece of the Fredericks attempt, via the power play, with just over seven minutes remaining to round out the scoring.
Now winners of six straight, the Eagles improve to 18-6-0-2 overall, while in defeat, the Thunderbirds dropped to 12-14-1-1.
Thunderbird coach Jamie Henderson told Saultsports that “We are having a tough time defending whether that’s in the d zone or taking the rush. It’s one of those things we lose a battle and a few seconds later the puck is in our net and we simply don’t have the firepower to out score our mistakes. It’s been a challenge since day one here and it’s difficult to win games at this level giving up so many goals.”
“Tonight was more of that and special teams made the score as one sided as it ended up being. It was 3-2 in the second and we were dominating and one breakdown and it’s 4-2 and again we are chasing the game. Their 20 year olds really impact the game and they are a good team who are well coached. We’ll get back to work tomorrow as we do and continue on here.”
Source: NOJHL
