NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
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A solid night offensively by James Legler aided in a 7-3 Soo Thunderbirds victory over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest Saturday at John Rhodes Community Centre.
Beginning the scoring while up a skater, 11:24 into the first period, Legler used a slight toe drag in the high slot that whipped a shot past a screened Glen McInnes in the Gold Miners’ net.
Picking up one of the assists on the marker was Deven Jones-McDonald who ran a point streak to five in the process.
Kirkland Lake came back to tie it when Tysen Anderson dished off a feed to an open Vaive Hickey going in alone that he chipped past Sault Ste. Marie’s Nathan Maguire.
However, the Soo came right back to regain the lead in final minute of the frame when Brady Real snagged a loose puck between the circles and made a couple of quick moves before whipping his in first NOJHL goal, coming with 18 seconds left in the session.
Another from Legler in the middle session put the T-Birds up by a pair as he took a pass from Jaden van de Ven and wheeled out from the side boards and while driving to the middle snapped a shot into the right corner.
In the back half of the second, Hickey connected again for the Miners as he was set-up nicely by Mavrick Boucher and went in on Maguire where he cut to his right and lifted in a backhand.
Answering that, Aiden Atkinson notched two markers to put the Soo up 5-2 after 40 minutes, starting with a wrister while darting down the right wing, then finishing off a nice rush into the Kirkland Lake zone began by Legler.
After Anderson tipped in a Ryland Harvey attempt that came from the left point 35 seconds into the third, the Thunderbirds’ Owen Murphy countered to help cap off the victory for the hosts as he notched his initial NOJHL marker by going to the net and chipping in a play put his way by Grady Holden.
Adding some insurance the Soo’s Shea Chornley came out from behind the net and spotted Wyatt Groth alone at the top of the crease where he promptly buried the pass to wrap things up.
With the win, the Thunderbirds move to 13-5-1-1 and in defeat, the Gold Miners drop to 5-12-0-2.
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