NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015
Strong start sends Thunderbirds past Canadians
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The Soo Thunderbirds skated out to a three-goal lead after one period of play and never trailed en route to a 4-1 victory over the Rayside-Balfour Canadians Wednesday evening in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Essar Centre.
Sault Ste. Marie came out flying in that opening stanza and were rewarded with the game’s opening tally at 8:17 courtesy of Mark Tassone’s fourth of the season.
The Thunderbirds then went up by two at 14:46 of the on an unassisted effort supplied by Izaak Del Mastro.
They then made it 3-0 just 65 seconds later as Michael Caruso converted during a man advantage opportunity for the club.
Rayside-Balfour got one back, via the power play, with the lone tally of the middle session as Mackenzie MacMillan struck with the Canadians up a man at 5:44.
The Thunderbirds then put the game away with seven and a half minutes to go as Matthew Mitchell’s eighth of the campaign sealed it for the home side.
Mario Culina made 19 saves to pick up the win for the T-Birds, who fired 50 shots on MacKenzie Savard as he finished with 46 stops in a losing cause.
