Breaking a tie game with the nights final three goals, the surging Soo Thunderbirds went on to register their fourth straight win Saturday, September 27th defeating the Greater Sudbury Cubs 5-2 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at John Rhodes Community Centre.
Daks Klinkhammer got the Cubs going offensively just over three minutes into the proceedings when a strong forecheck generated a turnover down low that he worked into the slot where he spun and sent a low shot through a crowd past Thunderbirds’ netminder Ryan Hicks.
Tying it a couple of shifts later on a man advantage, Sault Ste. Marie won a draw back to defenceman Ryan Daze in the high slot that he calmly collected and ripped upstairs by Greater Sudbury’s Matthew Vahramian, off a deflection, for his first in the NOJHL.
The Soo then went in front at 8:51 off an impressive passing play that Deven Jones-McDonald finished off with a short-side wrister after assists from James Legler and Aiden Atkinson.
Answering with an equalizer, Klinkhammer pushed a play ahead off a face off then fired it in front where the puck hit off teammate Caden Dubreuil and bounced in.
Continuing to trade chances, Creegan Tompkins gave the T-Birds a 3-2 edge into the first intermission as he snagged a loose puck behind the net, then darted out and stuffed in a wraparound.
Action in the second stanza the Soo go up by two while shorthanded when Gavin Killoran outraced a pair of defenders up ice and snapped a shot through the legs of Vahramian at 7:07 for his first league tally.
Heading to the third period, it remained 4-2 Soo until the final minute when Landon Hill finished it off by forcing a turnover at hos own blueline then racing in when he scored into an empty net for a power play effort to secure the result.
Thunderbird coach Jamie Henderson told Saultsports that “it was a really gutsy effort. They are obviously a top team in this league, and we got some great goaltending tonight and really battled. It won’t get any easier tomorrow with a quick turnaround, but this group will battle and give their best effort we know that.”
