NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015
Thunderbirds slip past Wildcats 2-1
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A Joe Newhouse power play goal with 14:51 remaining proved to be the difference as the Soo Thunderbirds slipped past the Elliot Lake Wildcats 2-1 Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League preseason contest at John Rhodes Community Centre.
The match-up, which featured two 25-minute sessions, saw the Wildcats fall just short in their second game of the day as they earlier defeated the Soo Eagles 3-2 Saturday afternoon.
It was the Thunderbirds who got on the board first as the defending NOJHL and Dudley-Hewitt Cup champions got a tally from Matt Caruso at 11:58 of the opening frame.
Elliot Lake countered with the equalizer 51 seconds into the final stanza when Artur Terchiyev took a pass from Chad Lopez and beat T-Birds starter Brendan Gordon.
The score stayed that way until Newhouse’s man advantage marker won it for the home side.
Gordon made 17 saves in picking up the win for Sault Ste. Marie while Allan Menary faced 30 shots in defeat for Elliot Lake.
The Thunderbirds return to the ice Sunday evening at 7 p.m. when they take on the rival Soo Eagles back at John Rhodes.
