NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014
Thunderbirds rally to edge Beavers in 2OT
SAULT STE. MARIE – Matt Caruso’s marker 57 seconds into the second overtime helped the Soo Thunderbirds pull out a 4-3 come from behind victory over the Blind River Beavers Wednesday night in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the John Rhodes Community Centre.
Blind River got themselves off to a great start in this one as Alex Hulford opened the scoring for the visitors 61 seconds after the opening face-off.
A Nathan Johnson power play tally midway through the first period then put the visitors up a pair.
Special teams allowed Sault Ste. Marie to get on the board before the first was complete with Jaren Bellini connecting during a man advantage at 11:29.
Blind River went back up by two with less than six minutes to go in the middle session courtesy of a Chris Corgan effort.
The Thunderbirds then started their comeback with 3:35 to go in the second with another by Bellini making it 3-2 after 40 minutes.
Eric Hillock forced OT with 14:32 remaining in regulation setting the stage for extra time.
The first five-minute OT saw no goals, but Caruso won it with an unassisted effort early in the second OT to give the T-Birds the extra point.
Mario Culina made 25 saves helping his side register their fifth straight victory as they improved to 7-2 on the season.
Nick Kazmierczak was pelted with 57 shots in the Beavers’ net helping Blind River secure their first point of the season as their record went to 0-9-0-1 overall.
NOJHL play resumes Friday with a trio of 7:30 p.m. starts as Cochrane hosts Kirkland Lake, the Thunderbirds entertain the Abitibi Eskimos while the Beavers pay a visit to Elliot Lake to take on the Wildcats at Centennial Arena.
