North Bay powers past T-Birds in opener

The North Bay Skyhawks used the Power in their arsenal to score an opening game victory.

Using a three-goal effort from Patrick Power, the North Bay Skyhawks defeated the Soo Thunderbirds 5-3 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League championship series on Sunday night in North Bay.

The series returns to Sault Ste. Marie on Tuesday for game two beginning at 7 p.m. at Memorial Gardens.

Aaron Anderson, Alex Butkus and Josh Leddy scored for the Thunderbirds. The locals outshot North Bay 45-24.

Patrick Honeyset and Bruce Winn also scored for the Skyhawks.

Both teams have already secured a berth into the Dudley-Hewitt Cup, which is being hosted by the Skyhawks. The Dudley-Hewitt Cup is symbolic of the Central Canadian Jr. A Championship.

The Thunderbirds will be making their first ever trip to the event being held April 27 to May 1. Other participants will include the champions of the Superior International Junior Hockey League and the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League.

The eventual winner of the regional championship will advance to the Royal Bank Cup national championship tournament May 8-16 in Grande Prairie, Alberta.