SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A Nolan Nemecek man advantage effort with just over 12 minutes remaining proved to be the game-winner as the Soo Thunderbirds went on to edge the Soo Eagles 4-3 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up Saturday at John Rhodes Community Centre.
Renewing acquaintances, the long-time rivals saw the Thunderbirds strike first as Rex Rhodes banged in his initial league marker past the midway point of the first period by finishing off a nice cross-ice feed from Lucas DiBeradino past goalkeeper Jace Knoerle.
Countering with a tying tally in the final minute of the frame, off an ill-timed pinch, Jack Ohlund took a Cooper Fredericks pass on a two-on-one and whipped it paced T-Birds netminder Lincoln Mellenthin.
In the second stanza, the guests went in front at 5:20 after Ohlund went in on a breakaway off a turnover and after being denied by a nice pad save by Mellenthin, saw Lucas Caulfield pounce and stuff in the rebound.
Coming back to knot it at 2-2, Colin Chesnut clicked for T-Birds halfway through the proceedings as he notched his first in the NOJHL by taking a pass across at the blueline, then darting in and ripping it into the top corner.
In the third, Cooper Labelle put the home side ahead as he knocked in a rebound off a Lucas Willoughby opportunity.
Nemecek then made it 4-2 with the Thunderbirds on a power play as he scored from the same spot on the ice as Labelle by finishing off a Chesnut chance.
Up a skater themselves, Fredericks brought the Eagles back to within one with half a period to go by putting one through traffic from the top of the right circle.
There would be no further scoring however and T-Birds skated away with the win in their home opener.
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