By Matt Stefano
After defeating the Soo Eagles 5-2 on Friday, September 11th at the Essar Centre on opening night, the Soo Thunderbirds were in Soo, Michigan on Saturday, September 12th for a rematch and were looking to go a perfect two for two against the Eagles.
The Soo Thunderbirds doubled up on the Eagles 6-3 on Saturday, September 12th at Pullar Stadium, getting goals from six different players.
Landon Hubbard opened the scoring just twenty one ticks into the first from Evan Ketner to put the Eagles up 1-0. Jacob Hernandez would then put the home side up by two at 1:06 from Dayton Honkanen. Drake Pilon would put the T-Birds on the board with his first of the season at 10:40 from Joey Miller. Matt Pinder’s second of the season would tie things up at two just seventeen seconds later from Brett Jeffries.
Heading into the second tied at two, it would be Trevor Jestadt putting the Eagles back in front 3-2 from Dayton Honkanen just 2:33 in. Nathan Hebert’s first of the season at 13:50 tied things up at three with assists going to Jake Behse and Matt Caruso.
With the teams tied at three heading into the final frame, it was all T-Birds in the third. Caleb Boman’s second of the season on the powerplay gave the T-Birds their first lead of the game just 2:57 in from Matt Caruso and Jake Behse. Captain Brett Jeffries would get his first of the season at 8:23 from Caleb Boman and Nathan Hebert to give the T-Birds a two goal lead. Thessalon, Ontario product Matt Murray, who also attended Soo Greyhounds camp as a free agent this Summer, got his first of the season on the powerplay at 16:52 from Joe Newhouse and Mark Tassone.
The Soo Thunderbirds doubled up on the Soo Eagles 6-3 at Pullar Stadium and improved their record to 2-0 on the season.
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan native Brandon Gordon made eleven saves for the T-Birds and also grabbed his first career NOJHL win in front of his hometown.
The T-Birds will be back on home ice on Wednesday, September 16th vs Blind River at the Essar Centre. It will also mark game one of the Provenzano Cup series.
