SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Soo Eagles saw Cooper Fredericks supply a couple of early goals to help send them on their way to a 5-2 victory over the cross-border rival Soo Thunderbirds Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Pullar Stadium.
The hometown Eagles got on the board while down a skater at 11:11 after a Thunderbirds defender lost an edge and fell, which allowed the hosts a chance in front of netminder Noah Metiver that was finished off by Fredericks, off an initial attempt from Alex Povorozniouk.
With his team-leading 10th tally, Fredericks extended a point streak to six straight outings.
He then scored again, moments into a man advantage, as he came off the side boards and worked his way to the top of the left circle where his wired a shot in for his second of the period.
The visitors got one back on a power play, early in the second stanza, when Cooper Labelle banked one in off Eagles starter Jace Knoerle from below the goal line for his fourth of the season.
Having a chance to tie it midway through the proceedings, the T-Birds Aiden Atkinson lifted a backhand wide on a penalty shot after being earlier taken down on a breakaway.
Countering, the Eagles went back up by two at 12:29 when Drew Dellies slammed one into the open side from the left of Metivier to give him points in a half-dozen consecutive contests.
Pulling to within one once more, the Thunderbirds moved a play around nicely while up a skater and saw a chance from the right point hit off bodies battling in front with Labelle being credited with the final touch before it bounced in.
Restoring their cushion, Lucas Caulfield steered in a Povorozniouk feed to see him extend a point streak to six.
The Eagles then put the game away when Coulson Bell tipped in a Tyler Fortson shot for his initial league marker.
With the win, the soaring Eagles have gone 5-0-1-0 in their past six outings, while moving to 8-4-0-1 overall.
The defeat saw the Thunderbirds fall to 7-6-1-0.
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