By Matt Stefano
Tyson Doucette remains on fire!
After recording a goal and two helpers in last Saturday’s 7-4 win in Elliot Lake, Tyson Doucette had another big night offensively for the Thunderbirds on Saturday night in Espanola as he scored two goals, including the overtime winner, leading the Thunderbirds to a 3-2 overtime victory over the Espanola Express at the Espanola Regional Recreation Complex.
Doucette, who scored twice on Saturday night, also extended his point-scoring streak to six games.
“At the start of the game, I thought our energy on the ice and on the bench was there, but we slowly started to play at their (Espanola) level,” said Thunderbirds forward Tyson Doucette. “After the first, we started to move our feet more and got chances. The game was overall a little sloppy, but we continued to battle hard and found a way to fight through things.”
With the Thunderbirds trailing 2-1 with under eight minutes to go in the third period, Doucette tied things up on the power play with his sixth goal of the season at 12:41 from Andrew Gibson and Cooper Foster.
Doucette would then get his second of the night and seventh goal of the season on the power play just 1:25 into the extra frame from Kaden Dundas and Michael Chaffay.
“At first I thought Kelsey (Ouellet) scored the overtime goal, but when I realized it was my goal, I was very excited and relieved we did not have to go into a shootout,” Doucette said.
On Saturday night, the Thunderbirds also got a goal from their top scoring rookie Kelsey Ouellet.
Ouellet scored his fourth goal and tenth point of the season at the 11:36 mark of the second period, which put the Thunderbirds up 1-0.
“Kelsey is a big body,” Doucette said. “He works hard every game and every shift. He never gives up and always finds a way to get the puck in the back of the net when we need it.”
The Thunderbirds, who entered Saturday night’s game with the best penalty kill in the entire NOJHL, went 3 for 4 on the penalty kill against Espanola.
“We are slowing things down, taking the play away from the other teams and the guys are fighting hard and winning the little battles,” Doucette said.
Kobe Braham (power play) and Kyle Caron had the goals for the Express on Saturday night while Caleb Resch, James Eng, Ty McHutchion and Adam Shillinglaw all chipped in with one assist each.
Express netminder Patrick Boivin gave up 3 goals on 46 shots in the loss while Thunderbirds goaltender Noah Metivier made 26 saves for the victory.
The Thunderbirds will now be back on John Rhodes ice on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. for a matinee game against the Soo Eagles.
(Photo of Thunderbirds forward Tyson Doucette credit to Bob Davies)
