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NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
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Backed by a two-goal night from Deven Jones-McDonald, the Soo Thunderbirds went on to earn a 7-4 victory versus the Iroquois Falls Storm Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at Jus Jordan Arena.
Sault Ste. Marie grabbed an early lead thanks to a tally credited to Aiden Atkinson just 14 seconds into the proceedings.
Adding another off some sustained pressure, Jones-McDonald powered his way to the slot and ripped in his team-leading 12th of the season, eluding Storm netminder Alex Hall.
The Storm got one back late in the first thanks to Mathieu Ouellette at 18:57 when he knocked in his own rebound off a two-on-one that got by the T-Birds’ starter, Nathan Maguire.
In the second period, the Soo came out hard and scored three times early to go up 5-1.
Gavin Killoran began the outburst at 1:26 as he whipped in a one-timer off a down-low feed from Wyatt Groth before Jones-McDonald added another moments later as he converted from the slot.
The Thunderbirds then saw Dreyon Boisseneau pick up his first in the NOJHL during a power play by snapping one in from the top of the right circle.
Responding, the Storm’s Nika Lessard picked off a play in the neutral zone then sent Owen Goodwin down the left wing, where he connected for his third of the campaign.
The assist for Lessard was his first in the league as the affiliate forward was making his debut for Iroquois Falls.
Heading to the final session, a two-man advantage brought the hosts to within a pair when Lucas Peever blasted in a one-timer off a Landon Trethewey feed at 12:33.
Answering that a couple of shifts later, Callum McAuley converted for the Soo off a turnover by wiring an attempt from the left wing into the net.
After Goodwin got another for the Storm by jamming one in off a Lessard chance, Shea Chornley iced it for the Thunderbirds with a long-range empty-netter just before the final buzzer sounded to wrap things up.
Having yet to lose in regulation so far this season, Maguire now has six straight wins for the Soo while improving to 8-0-1-0 overall.
The victory also raises the Thunderbirds’ record to 14-6-1-1 and, in defeat, the Storm slip to 8-11-0-2.
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