By Matt Stefano
For the second straight game, the Soo Thunderbirds were winning at one point by a score of 3-1.
And for the second straight game, the Thunderbirds ended up surrendering the 3-1 lead and the eventually lost the game.
After leading the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners by a score of 3-1 after the first period of play, the Soo Thunderbirds then gave up seven unanswered goals, which led to an 8-3 loss to the Gold Miners at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex on Saturday night in Kirkland Lake.
The Thunderbirds, who lost 8-3 to the Gold Miners on Saturday night, were also coming off a 4-3 overtime loss against the Iroquois Falls Storm one night ago (Friday night), which was also a game the Thunderbirds surrendered a 3-1 lead.
On Saturday night, Gold Miners rookie forward Noah Woodward led the way offensively with a pair of goals, including one on the power play, along with setting up two others.
Defenceman Bruce Grey also had a big night offensively for the Gold Miners as he scored the game-winning goal and set up two others while forward Joseph Bastian-Picard recorded three assists.
Aidan Beaven, Inde Abresch, Jesse Dupuis, Cole Ellis and Benjamin Armatage all chipped in with a goal and assist each for the Miners while Nolan Rosko-Fong set up two goals.
Rookie forwards Jared Gull-Georgekish and Jonah McIndoo also got on the scoresheet for the Gold Miners with one assist each.
Thunderbirds forward Thomas Degagne led the way offensively for his club with two goals while Daniel Beaupre also got on the scoresheet with one goal, which came on the man advantage.
Kolby Fellinger, Kelsey Ouellet, Connor Stokes, Evan Roach, Declan Gallivan and Adam Kukko also all chipped in for the Thunderbirds with one assist each.
Thunderbirds goaltender Troy Rossetto gave up 8 goals on 49 shots in the loss while Gold Miners netminder Braydon Garnhart made 34 saves for the victory.
The Thunderbirds who now have a record of 1-2-1, will now be back in action on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m., when they visit McIntyre Arena in Timmins to take on the Timmins Rock.
Sunday afternoon’s game between the Thunderbirds and the Rock, will also be their first meeting since the Rock defeated them in last year’s NOJHL final.
SPECIAL TEAMS
During Saturday night’s game in Kirkland Lake, the Thunderbirds went 1-for-6 on their power play while going 2-for-5 on their penalty kill.
