Soo Thunderbirds edge Rapids thanks to late goal

A Jacob Smith power-play goal with less than four minutes to go in regulation turned out to be the winner as the Soo Thunderbirds pulled out a 4-3 win over the French River Rapids in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Saturday at John Rhodes Community Centre.

French River began the scoring eight minutes in after Zachary Bartzis split the defence and deked to his right before lifting a backhand over the pad of Sault netminder Noah Metivier for his first NOJHL goal, the league said in a release.

Tying it late in the first period, Thunderbird captain Gage Evans snapped a shot from the point that sailed through a maze of players for his first league goal.

In the second, the Soo took the lead at 3:10 when Smith went in alone on a breakaway and beat Rapids’ goalkeeper Carter Vicente.

Answering with an equalizer while up a skater, the visitors drew level with Michael Christopoulos knocking in a rebound while battling in front.

Third period play saw Callum McAuley score on a strong individual effort for the Thunderbirds as he raced down the ice past a defender and buried his shot at 2:28.

French River tied it five minutes later when Alexandre Dubuc redirected a Bryson Villeneuve shot from the point.

The deciding goal came with the Soo up a skater as defenceman Jake McPherson drove hard down the right boards toward the net shot for a shot and a waiting Smith slammed in the rebound.

The Thunderbirds held on for the win.