Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
On Saturday, December 7th, at the John Rhodes Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, the Soo Thunderbirds, currently in seventh place with an 11-12-1-1 record, will take on the Elliot Lake Vikings, who sit in eleventh place with a 6-17-1 record, in an exciting NOJHL matchup. This contest marks the first regular-season meeting between the two teams. Heading into the game, the Thunderbirds have gone 4-5-0-1 in their last ten regular season games, while the Vikings are on a two-win, seven-loss, and one-OTL stretch over their last ten contests. Both teams will be looking to build momentum and improve their standings in what promises to be a crucial game for both sides.
The Soo Thunderbirds opened the scoring at 5:58 of the first period when Cooper Labelle pounced on a rebound off Elliot Lake goaltender Noah Davis and slid the puck into the back of the net. Labelle’s sixth goal of the season was assisted by James McDowall and Jacon Smith. The Vikings answered back just 45 seconds before the midway point of the period when Yenry Jibb received a pass from Nate Dugwell in the left faceoff circle and beat Thunderbirds goaltender Lincoln Mellenthin to even the score at 1-1. Brigham Nye also earned an assist on Jibb’s fifth goal of the season, which came at 10:45. The Thunderbirds regained the lead at 4:58 when Aiden Atkinson, receiving a pass from rookie James Elliot at the Vikings blue line, Atkinson skated around an Elliot Lake defenseman and lifted a shot over Davis’ left shoulder for his eighth goal of the season. Callum McAuley also assisted on the play. With 59 seconds left in the period and the Thunderbirds on a power play, McAuley found himself in the right place at the right time. After a scramble in front of Davis, McAuley picked up a rebound off the left post and calmly slid it into the net for his seventh of the season. James Legler and Colin Chestnut provided the assists on the goal, extending the Soo’s lead to 3-1 heading into the intermission.
Nate Dugwell, all alone in the right faceoff circle, rifled a wrist shot over Thunderbirds goaltender Mellenthin’s catcher to score his fifth goal of the season, cutting the Vikings’ deficit to one. Brigham Nye earned the lone assist on Dugwell’s goal, which came at 14:19 of the second period. Defenseman Cam Freeman fired a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle, and the puck ricocheted off Elliot Lake goaltender Noah Davis’ mask. Deven Jones-McDonald was quick to capitalize on the rebound, extending the Thunderbirds’ lead to 4-1 at 4:12 of the third period. James Legler also earned an assist on Jones-McDonald’s first goal as a Thunderbird and his third of the season. Just 29 seconds before the midway point of the third, Jones-McDonald struck again, this time from the left of Elliot Lake’s net, to score his second of the game and seal a 5-2 victory for the Thunderbirds. Legler and goaltender Lincoln Mellenthin both assisted on the goal, securing the win for the Soo. Elliot Lake goaltender Noah Davis made 26 saves in the Vikings’ 5-2 loss, but the Thunderbirds’ offense proved too much to handle. At the other end, Soo netminder Lincoln Mellenthin was solid, stopping 29 of 31 shots in the 5-2 victory. Mellenthin also played a key role in the Thunderbirds’ offensive surge, earning an assist on Deven Jones-McDonald’s second goal of the game, further contributing to the team’s successful outing.
Next up for the Vikings will be in Massey, Ontario when Elliot Lake hosts the Sudbury Cubs in a 7:00 p.m start on Friday, December 13th while the Thunderbirds hit the road for a Sunday, December 8th contest against the Beavers in a 1:00 p.m afternoon matinee in Blind River.
