Thunder improve to 2-0 at Steel City

The Soo Thunder improved their record in the 24th Annual Steel City Tournament to 2-0 earlier today with a 6-4 victory over the Marquette American Legion, a team the Thunder competes against in the Northern International Hockey League.

The game featured a number of quality chances both ways as the teams traded chances throughout the game.

The Thunder got behind the eight ball very early as T.J. Black gave Marquette a 1-0 lead just 13 second into the game when he slid a rebound past Thunder netminder Michael Doan.

The Thunder had a pair of chances to tie the game later in the period but Dereck Hurley was turned aside on a shorthanded breakaway by Marquette goaltender Jordan Nagelkirk as was Drew MacMillan, who was also turned aside on a breakaway. Later in the opening period, the Thunder managed to crack the armour of Nagelkirk as Brett Thompson cut out in front of the Marquette goal and slid the puck past Nagelkirk with just under five minutes left in the period.

The Thunder then took the lead in the final minute of the period as Drew MacMillan and Thompson moved in on a 2-on-1 and MacMillan took a feed from Thompson and beat Nagelkirk to send the game into the second period with the locals holding a 2-1 lead.

Marquette got the game back on even terms as Gabe Migda beat Doan 5:38 into the period and then took the lead at 11:57 when Black picked up his second goal of the game. MacMillan then picked up his second goal of the game as he scored on the power play at 14:22.

MacMillan completed the hat-trick early on in the third period as he scored another power play marker at 4:31 to give the Thunder a 4-3 lead.

The lead was short-lived though as lanky centre Justin Florek, who played well in the loss, scored on the power play at 7:34 to tie the game again.

Thompson picked up his second goal of the game at 8:47 to give the Thunder a lead they would never relinquish as they took a 5-4 lead. Thompson then sealed the win with an empty net goal with one second remaining.

Thompson and MacMillan each finished the game with hat-tricks. Thompson also had two assists in being named the game star for the Thunder. Tyler Hawdon also had two assists in the victory.

Thunder coach Ken Hruska was pleased with the effort of his club in picking up the victory, especially considering it was their first victory against Marquette this season.

"It was a good game," Hruska said. "That's the first time we've beaten them all season. We had a game plan going in and the kids stuck to it. Now (the players) know they can beat Marquette (should the two teams meet again in the tournament). The players really deserved it."

Hruska was also pleased with Thompson and MacMillan having big games and called the two forwards "two of our leaders."

The Thunder also managed to keep Florek, who was been dominant for Marquette this season, in check. Hruska credited the fact that he had one player from each line who was expected to keep the lanky centre in check.

The tight checking that the young centre from Marquette was faced with saw him take a pair of penalties in frustration including one with just over a minute left and Marquette still trailing by just a goal.

The Thunder finished the game with five power play goals.

The Thunder will now face the St. Catherines Sabres in AAA Minor Bantam action later this afternoon. The two teams will square off at the Pee Wee Arena at 6:30 p.m.