By Matt Stefano
He’s been on fire as of late, recording nine points in his past four games and tonight T-Birds forward Matt Caruso continued to stay hot as he scored three times and assisted on another in an 8-0 win over the Iroquois Falls Eskis on Friday night at the Essar Centre.
“The game was good tonight,” said Caruso. “I thought we didn’t see their best game but tomorrow we have to bring an even better game and I think both I and our team had a good game overall.”
Caruso, who headed into Friday night’s action with thirteen goals on the season, passed his career totals from a year ago, where he finished off the 2014-2015 regular season with thirteen tallies. Not to mention, he led the NOJHL postseason last year in goals with fourteen, including three consecutive hat tricks.
“It feels pretty good to get those accomplishments,” Caruso concluded. “But as a team right now we’re gelling, we’re going forward and after the Christmas break we’ll continue to do what we’re doing right now.”
Jaren Bellini had a three point night with two goals and an assist while Matt Busby and Matt Mitchell had a goal and an assist each. Nathan Hebert, Caleb Boman, Ryan Mulligan and Zach Senecal all chipped in with a pair of helpers each while single assists went to Jake Behse and Izaak Del Mastro. Khadyn Butterfly notched his first goal in a Soo Thunderbirds uniform in his fourth game played since being acquired from the OJHL’s Markham Royals.
T-Birds goalie Mario Culina made sixteen saves for his second shutout of the season while Matt Camilleri gave up five goals on twenty one shots before being replaced by Joe Sheppard, who let in three goals in fourteen shots.
The T-Birds will play their final game before the Christmas break and the new year on Saturday, December 19th against the Timmins Rock at 7:30 p.m. from the Essar Centre.
With a home record now sitting at 14-0, the T-Birds will look to head into the holiday season perfect at home for the first time since 2013-2014.
