Special teams sink Thunderbirds in road defeat

The Hearst Lumberjacks scored five times on special teams Sunday to pick up a 7-4 win over the Soo Thunderbirds at Hearst's Claude Larose Recreation Centre in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action.

Hearst scored four times on the power play and added a shorthanded marker in the victory.

Following is a detailed recap of Sunday's contest provided by the NOJHL:

The Hearst Lumberjacks score four times on the power play, and once more shorthanded, as part of a 7-4 triumph over the Soo Thunderbirds Sunday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair at Claude Larose Recreation Centre.

On the man advantage midway through the first period, visiting Sault Ste. Marie supplied the initial tally in the contest when James Elliott drove out from the side boards into the high slot and sent a sizzler past a screened Hearst netminder Owen Bonthius.

Up a skater themselves, the Lumberjacks drew level after working a play around nicely that led to Mathieu Comeau sending a pass across to Adam Shillinglaw, who blasted a one-timer from the point that soared by Thunderbirds’ starter Noah Metivier.

Some more play-making from Comeau helped Hearst get another on a man advantage as his feed found Damien Bourdon-Lemoyne in front, who made a quick move and lifted in a backhand.

The home side’s power play went to work once more, collecting their third in the session when DonHeaven Veilleux stuffed in a rebound off a drive from up high at 18:52.

Moving to the second period, the teams traded tallies before the midway mark of the contest.

The T-Birds’ Jonathan Sonedecker made it 3-2 as he finished off an odd-man rush in transition and redirected in a Nolan Nemecek attempt from the right side.

Getting that back at 8:17, Hearst busted up a play in the neutral zone that led to another sweet pass by Comeau that was ripped in by Tyler Patterson to make it 4-2.

A late two-man advantage brought the Soo to within one once more after Sonedecker wired one through a crowd.

However, the Lumberjacks countered quickly right off the draw with a shorthanded sizzler moments later thanks to William Pâquet, who buried a shot, from up top, on Metivier.

Busting it open early in the third, the home side banged in a couple of quick markers to go ahead by four.

Another by Veilleux saw him convert through a screen at 1:11, while special teams worked once more just after that when Bronson Babyak jumped in a finished off a wrap-around chance by Aiden Kalin while on a power play.

The Soo saw Lincoln Mellinthin come in and play the final 15:55 in relief for the visitors.

Getting closer late, the Thunderbirds’ Lucas DiBeradino banged in a rebound off a James Legler shot to round out the scoring.

The result sees Hearst improve to 4-1-0-0 on the season while the Soo slips to 4-1-1-0.

Next up for each side will be action in Sudbury Tuesday during Day 1 play at the NOJHL Showcase.