Thunderbirds explode offensively in win at home

After trading goals early on, the Soo Thunderbirds cruised to an 8-2 Northern Ontario Juinior Hockey League victory over the Iroquois Falls Storm on Friday at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

Cooper Woron had a pair of goals in the win.

Following is a full release from the NOJHL with details from the game:

Cooper Woron tallied twice, including picking up the game-winner, to send the Soo Thunderbirds on their way to an 8-2 triumph over the Iroquois Falls Storm Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at John Rhodes Community Centre.

Trading early goals, James McDowall was credited with his first NOJHL marker for Sault Ste. Marie, only to see Iroquois Falls answer quickly with a Jack Jarvis marker.

Going back in front during a power play, the Thunderbirds’ James Legler pumped a shot from the point, that was stopped, but Woron was right there to stuff in the rebound past Storm starter Maverick Fletcher.

Answering once again, the visitors drew level after Jarvis blocked a shot and dashed down the ice and notched the equalizer off a nice backhand move on Soo netminder Lincoln Mellenthin.

Retaking the lead, the Soo forced a turnover, which led to Woron notching his second close-range effort of the session.

Upping their edge 12:21 into the second stanza, Jonathan Sonedecker fired a feed to the slot from below the goal line where James Elliot swooped in and wired it in.

The T-Birds then struck shorthanded a minute and a half later with Aiden Atkinson supplying the man-down marker as he raced past a defender and while driving hard to the net lifted in a nifty backhand to put the hosts up by three after two.

In the final frame, Colin Chesnut added some insurance for the Soo as he came in from the point and sent a sizzler into the back of the net.

Legler then broke it open as he darted in on a breakaway, and after being initially denied, jammed in his second chance at 7:31.

Wrapping up the scoring, Bryan Fenlon scored on a five-on-three from up top to see the Thunderbirds win going away.

The victory raises the T-Birds record to 8-7-1-0.

In defeat the Storm slipped to 6-11-0-0.