Fredericks paces Eagles in win over Thunderbirds

The Soo Eagles continued a hot stretch on Friday night in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play.

A pair of early goals from Cooper Fredericks lifted the Michigan Sault-based Eagles to a 5-2 win over their Ontario-based rivals, the Soo Thunderbirds.

Following is a full recap of Friday's contest from the NOJHL.

The Soo Eagles saw Cooper Fredericks supply a couple of early goals to help send them on their way to a 5-2 victory over the cross-border rival Soo Thunderbirds Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Pullar Stadium.

The hometown Eagles got on the board while down a skater at 11:11 after a Thunderbirds defender lost an edge and fell, which allowed the hosts a chance in front of netminder Noah Metiver that was finished off by Fredericks, off an initial attempt from Alex Povorozniouk.

With his team-leading 10th tally, Fredericks extended a point streak to six straight outings.

He then scored again, moments into a man advantage, as he came off the side boards and worked his way to the top of the left circle where his wired a shot in for his second of the period.

The visitors got one back on a power play, early in the second stanza, when Cooper Labelle banked one in off Eagles starter Jace Knoerle from below the goal line for his fourth of the season.

Having a chance to tie it midway through the proceedings, the T-Birds Aiden Atkinson lifted a backhand wide on a penalty shot after being earlier taken down on a breakaway.

Countering, the Eagles went back up by two at 12:29 when Drew Dellies slammed one into the open side from the left of Metivier to give him points in a half-dozen consecutive contests.

Pulling to within one once more, the Thunderbirds moved a play around nicely while up a skater and saw a chance from the right point hit off bodies battling in front with Labelle being credited with the final touch before it bounced in.

Restoring their cushion, Lucas Caulfield steered in a Povorozniouk feed to see him extend a point streak to six.

The Eagles then put the game away when Coulson Bell tipped in a Tyler Fortson shot for his initial league marker.

With the win, the soaring Eagles have gone 5-0-1-0 in their past six outings, while moving to 8-4-0-1 overall.

The defeat saw the Thunderbirds fall to 7-6-1-0.