Thunderbirds hand Rock first defeat of young junior hockey season

NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
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TIMMINS – A well-placed Jonathan Sonedecker attempt, early in the second period proved to be the game-winner as the Soo Thunderbirds went on to down the Timmins Rock 4-1 Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at McIntyre Arena.

Timmins pressed the pace of play to commence the contest, but it was visiting Sault Ste. Marie who capitalized first with a shorthanded tally.

On the marker, the Thunderbirds broke out on a two-on-one and saw Jacob Smith dart down the right wing before firing a feed over to Bryan Fenlon who snapped a low shot under the glove of Rock netminder Dryden Riley.

The home side had a great chance to tie it, however the T-Birds’ Noah Metivier denied Brant Romaniuk on a penalty shot at 12:47 as he stood his ground in making a solid save.

On an extended power play to begin the second stanza, the Thunderbirds capitalized when Sonedecker moved up the side boards and made a nice move around a defender into the high slot where he snapped a shot the found its way in with bodies circulating out front.

With a decent goal and point streak on the line, Romaniuk was once again stymied by Metiver from in close, midway through the proceedings, with the veteran goaltender sharp throughout.

Timmins did finally solve the Soo stopper deep into the middle frame, after Ethan Albert sent Lucas Lowe on a dash down the right wing where he made a solid power move while leaning in before lifting one high into the top right-hand corner at 16:31.

Heading to the third, the T-Birds got some insurance in the back-half of the session as Lucas Willoughby picked up his initial NOJHL tally by coming out from behind the net, catching Riley off his post and stuffing his in opportunity.

The Soo then iced the road victory in the final minute as Fenlon notched his second of the evening with an empty netter by pressuring his way up-ice and scoring in the waning moments.

With the result, the Thunderbirds remain unbeaten at 3-0-1-0 while handing the Rock their first loss, who slipped to 4-1-0-0.