By Matt Stefano
After defeating the Rayside Balfour Canadians by a score of 5-3 back on Sunday night in Chelmsford and picking up their twenty sixth win of the season, the Soo Thunderbirds were looking to extend their winning streak to two games on Friday night as they made their first and only visit of the season to Kirkland Lake to take on the Gold Miners.
The Thunderbirds, who entered Friday night’s game sitting in first place in the NOJHL standings with fifty three points, were just two points ahead of the Gold Miners.
Gold Miners forwards Gregory Trudeau-Paquet (1g 2a), Vinny DeSanctis (0g 3a) and Aiden Wagner (2g 1a) combined for nine points on Friday night as Kirkland Lake defeated the Soo by a score of 4-1 at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
Defencemen Jaren DeBolt and Gabriel LeBlanc also got on the scoresheet for the Gold Miners with one assist each.
Forward Noah Boman had a power play goal for the Thunderbirds with assists going to Steven Bellini and Nick Smith.
Bellini’s assist on Boman’s power play goal, gave him his twenty nine assists on the season, passing his assists total from one season ago.
Gold Miners goaltender Gregory Brassard was named third star of the game, making twenty seven saves for the victory.
Thunderbirds rookie netminder Colin Ahern gave up four goals on twenty three shots in the loss.
The Thunderbirds will be right back in action on Saturday night, when they visit Powassan for their second meeting of the season against the Voodoos.
Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. at Powassan Sportsplex.
(Photo of Noah Boman credit to Rod Aubertin/www.ssmphotos.com)
