SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A Lucas DeBerardino marker with 2:34 remaining in overtime lifted the Soo Thunderbirds to a narrow 2-1 victory over the Soo Eagles Saturday, to commence a four-team Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League weekend series at John Rhodes Community Centre.
With multiple games being contested, the clubs were set to play 17-minute periods over the course of six total match-ups.
Renewing acquaintances, the two long-time rivals went scoreless in the opening frame with the starting netminders, Noah Metivier of the Thunderbirds, and the Eagles’ Jace Knoerle, providing saves when called upon.
In the second stanza, the Eagles pressured a loose puck and went in front where Theodore Schubert spun and fired a shot from in close range at 6:14, with Hunzeker Piersimoni also in on the play.
Answering with a power play marker, Cooper Labelle drew the T-Birds even as he slammed in a chance off of some work by teammates Aiden Atkinson and Callum MaAuley.
Even at 1-1 into the third, neither side would connect, to send it to extra time.
In OT, the home side prevailed when a crisp up-ice pass from Colin Chesnut allowed DeBerardino to break in, and while being harassed by a defender, buried the game-winner from the left of Knoerle.
Later Saturday, the Thunderbirds will take on the Elliot Lake Vikings at 6:30 p.m., while the Eagles face-off against Espanola Paper Kings at 8:30 p.m., back at John Rhodes.
Feel free to provide your teams sports scores and roundup to sports@eupnews.com when your game is completed.
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