Coming of a 4 – 2 win on the road in Sudbury on September 30th over the Sudbury Cubs, the Soo Thunderbirds returned to action on October 2nd in Sault Ste Marie when they hosted the visiting Espanola Express in NOJHL action.

With the Soo on a power play 9:50 into the opening period, Cooper Foster finds the back of Espanola goaltender Reid Gates net from the left faceoff circle after catching a pass from Brock Santa Maria from the right bluleine to give the Thunderbirds a 1 – 0 lead. Creo Solomon added the second helper on Foster’s second of the season. Youssef Chaouachi finds the back of the Reid’s net on a Thunderbird breakaway 1:23 into the second to bring the hosts lead to 2 – 0. Cole Delarosbil and Solomon registered the assists on Chaouachi first NOJHL goal. With a loose puck in the Express crease, Foster lifts his second of the contest past goaltender Reid Gates at 12:01 of the final period to increase the Thunderbirds lead to 3 – 0. Kelly Ouelett drew the lone contributor on Foster’s third of the season.

From the top of the left faceoff circle, Ouelett fires a wrist shot over Gates blocker to bring the Soo’s lead to 4 – 0 at 14:57 of the third. Kyle Trottier and Michael Chaffey notched the helpers on Ouelett’s first of the season. With 1:59 remaining in the game, Samuel Lake picks up a rebound to sink the Thunderbirds fifth on a Soo five on three power play to give the hosts a 5 – 0 shutout win at the 18:01 mark of the period. Espanola’s Reid Gates turned away 40 of 45 shots while Noah Metivier stopped 32 of 32 shots to earn his first NOJHL shutout in the Thunderbirds fourth win of the 2021 – 2022 season.

The Thunderbirds are back in action on October 3rd in Blind River in a 2:00 p.m afternoon matinee against the Beavers.

Photo Credit: Bob Davies