NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Oct. 10, 2014
Surging Soo wins 6th straight
SAULT STE. MARIE – A David Radke goal midway through the second overtime lifted the surging Soo Thunderbirds to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Abitibi Eskimos in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest held Friday at John Rhodes Community Centre.
Each side would connect once in the opening period with Abitibi supplying with the first of three power play markers on the night to go up 1-0 on an extra man effort by Brennan Roy.
Sault Ste. Marie’s Jaren Bellini pulled the T-Birds even at 5:24 of the first to send the sides knotted at one into the second stanza.
After Joey Miller put the Thunderbirds up 2-1, the Eskimos countered with power play tallies from Roy and Kyle Levis midway through the frame to put Abitibi back in front.
The Sault countered again getting goals Nicolas Tassone and Anthony Miller to make it 4-3 Thunderbirds after 40 minutes.
The Eskimos then forced extra time thanks to Brady Clouthier’s equalizer with 4:24 remaining in regulation.
After a first five-minute OT failed to produce a winner, the Thunderbirds’ won it in the second OT as Radke notched the game-winner with his first goal of the season to extend his club’s winning streak to a half dozen.
Brian Kment made 31 saves to record the win for his side while Chet Tooker helped the Eskimos salvage a point on the night with a 40-save performance.
Three NOJHL games are on the schedule Saturday as Abitibi visits Blind River, Powasaan is at home to Sudbury and Kirkland Lake entertains Cochrane in the back-end of a weekend home-and-home.
All three contests get underway at 7:30 p.m.
