By Matt Stefano
Sunday afternoon marked the final game before the Christmas break and New Year for the Soo Thunderbirds as they were in French River to take on the Rapids.
After losing 5-3 Saturday night to the top team in the NOJHL, the Powassan Voodoos, the T-Birds took on a Rapids team that currently sits last place in the league.
Rookie forward Noah Solinger recorded his first career two goal game to help the T-Birds to a 6-2 win over French River at Noelville Arena.
Matt Caruso, Ryan Waterhouse and Ryan Mulligan had a goal and an assist each for the T-Birds while rookie forward Keegan Stevenson, who doesn’t turn 16 until New Year’s Eve, chipped in with two assists.
Ajax, Ontario native Greg Smith had a goal for the Soo while Brendan Jay, Zach Senecal, Alec Allen and Mark Tassone all chipped in with an assist each.
Alexander Goettlicher had two assists to lead the way offensively for the Rapids while Dew Tobobandung and Austin Hickner had a goal each.
Christian Gaudreau chipped in with one assist for the Rapids.
Rapids goalie Korlan Vader gave up 5 goals on 24 shots in the loss while T-Birds rookie goalie Dougie Newhouse made 22 stops for the win.
Next game for the T-Birds will be Friday, January 6th at 7:00 p.m. against the Soo Eagles at the Essar Centre.
ALUMNI NEWS
On Sunday afternoon, former Soo Thunderbirds forward Boris Katchouk registered his first four point game of his Ontario Hockey League career, leading the Soo Greyhounds to an 8-1 victory over the Sarnia Sting.
Katchouk, who had a shorthanded goal just 5:10 into the second period, gave him his fourth shorthanded tally of the season, which made him the first Soo Greyhound to score four shorthanded goals in one season since Brett Thompson (2009-2010).
(Photo of Noah Solinger credit to James Egan’s Sports Photography)