The Soo Thunderbirds remain atop the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s West Division standings following a pair of weekend games.
Through 14 games, the Thunderbirds hold a 10-2-1-1 (win-loss-overtime loss-shootout loss) record and 22 points following a 4-1 win on the road Saturday night in Elliot Lake against the Elliot Lake Red Wings.
It was a game in which the Thunderbirds outshot the home team 54-31, which included a 43-18 margin through 40 minutes.
Rookie defenceman Andrew Gibson opened the scoring for the Thunderbirds with a power play marker 4:13 into the second period.
Kelsey Ouellet then extended the lead at 7:36.
With the Thunderbirds leading by a pair, Creo Solomon extended the lead further with his fourth goal of the season at 9:06 of the third period.
Elliot Lake’s Alex Antoine made it 3-1 when he beat Thunderbirds starter Noah Metivier at 14:11.
Gibson got his second of the night at 18:05 to cap off the scoring.
The young defenceman finished the night with two goals and an assist for the Thunderbirds.
Metivier made 30 saves for the Thunderbirds while Nolan Chartrand made 50 saves for Elliot Lake.
On Friday night, the Thunderbirds dropped a 4-3 overtime decision at home to the Greater Sudbury Cubs at the John Rhodes Community Centre.
Kyler Campbell scored the game-winner 90 seconds into the extra frame.
Campbell finished the night with a pair of goals and an assist for the Cubs.
Billy Biedermann had a goal and an assist for Sudbury while Pineshish Whiteduck assisted on a pair of goals.
Cubs goaltender Sasha Guimond made 42 saves in the win.
Samuel Lake, Michael Chaffay, and Kenny Belanger Jr. scored for the Thunderbirds.
Metivier made 34 saves.
The Thunderbirds return to action on Nov. 5 at home when they host the Red Wings at the John Rhodes Community Centre in a 7:30 p.m. start.
The game begins a busy weekend for the Thunderbirds, who will travel to Blind River the following night to face the Beavers before hosting the Soo (Mich.) Eagles on Sunday afternoon.