NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
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After falling behind early, the Soo Thunderbirds came back with a purpose to soar past the Powaasan Voodoos 8-2 Friday night in a one-sided Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League result at John Rhodes Community Centre.
Countering in transition at the their own blueline, Powassan scored first as they broke out on an odd-man rush that saw Eric Whitelaw fire a shot that was stopped, but Ryan Saginaw was right there to swat the rebound past Sault Ste. Marie starter Noah Metivier, seven minutes into the proceedings.
Answering that on the night’s initial power play, the Thunderbirds’ James Elliot drew his side level at 13:53 as he cranked a one-timer from the top of the right circle that flew past the glove of the Voodoos’ Austin Seibel.
The Soo then took the lead deep into the first period when Tyler Neveau worked his way down the left side boards and fired a feed into the slot that was quickly whipped in by Callum McAuley.
Extending their edge early in the second stanza, the T-Birds’ Jacob Smith guided in a pass through the crease from Nate Dugwell into the open side.
Still firing, the home side went up 4-1 after James McDowall snagged a loose puck laying at the top of the crease and lifted it in at 6:47.
That prompted a goaltending change by the Voodoos, with Tyson Wilcox entering in relief.
Not done there, the Thunderbirds added another when Matteo Moretta stepped around a Powassan skater and fired a shot from the left circle off of Wilcox and in, for his initial NOJHL tally.
With the Soo up by four into the final frame, they put the game out of reach off a Deven Jones-McDonald marker as he pressured a turnover and proceeded to sizzle in a wrister from the high slot, while using a defender as a screen.
Notching a seventh on the evening, Moretta put a pass in front to Jones-McDonald, who promptly hammered it in, during a man advantage opportunity.
A shorthanded effort off the stick of Elliot, saw him power his way past a defender and while driving to the net, took it wide and tucked it into the bottom right corner.
The Voodoos did get one more during a late power play that saw Owen Kahl steer in a nice move and pass made by Mason Rontondo to complete the night’s scoring.
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