Soo takes high-scoring matinee vs. Blind River

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – Noah Boman tallied twice, and dished out a pair of assists, to help propel the Soo Thunderbirds to a 7-5 triumph over the Blind River Beavers Sunday afternoon in a high-scoring Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League matinee at John Rhodes Community Centre.

Coming off a three-point performance in a win Saturday, Caleb Wood continued his strong play by scoring 33 seconds into the contest for the Thunderbirds as he finished off the work off an Avery Rebek attempt as he stuffed in a rebound.

Boman added to the Sault Ste. Marie lead eight minutes in as he fired a shot off the post and in past Blind River netminder Gavin Disano.

Battling back, Blind River cut into the deficit at 13:05 as Jacob Kelly darted in alone on a breakaway where he made a quick move to his right before neatly tucking the puck between the legs of Soo starter Scott Young for his team-leading 15th tally of the season.

Picking up a late two-man advantage, the visitors capitalized by notching the equalizer at 19:39 to send the clubs to the dressing tied at 2-2 with Thomas Michaud finishing off the work of Noah Minns and Jacob Kelly.

Still down a skater to begin the middle session, the Soo struck shorthanded 59 seconds in after they forced a turnover and got it up to Cooper Smyl who made a nifty deke and lifted one high over Disano to put the home side back on top.

Answering again with the man advantage, Blind River’s Matt Cato made it 3-3 at 5:25 as he banged in a goal-mouth scramble off a Lucas Adams shot from the right side.

Countering quickly, the Thunderbirds regained the lead as Smyl clicked from close range following a pair of high point shots from Jacob Doucette.

Tightening up defensively for the final 14 minutes of the stanza, the Soo took their one-lead into the second intermission.

In the third, the Thunderbirds tacked on a fifth marker of the day, a minute and a half in, thanks to Boman who jammed in his second of the day from the left of Disano.

The see-saw affair saw Blind River draw closer off a Michaud rush that was picked up by Milos Todorovic who snapped one in from the slot through a partial screen.

They then leveled the proceedings off a Kelly back pass over to Ethan Pegg who zipped one from the right point through a maze and have Noah Minns credited with a deflection on the marker.

However, the Soo answered once more thanks to a Parker Morgan tip from the top of the crease.

Capping off the season-ending victory for the Thunderbirds was Doucette with his fifth goal of the year.

Shots on net finished 42-40 with the Soo holding the edge and Young getting the win while Disano suffered the defeat.