ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – The Soo Thunderbirds saw nine different skaters produce multi-point nights as they went on to dump the Elliot Lake Wildcats 12-3 Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at Centennial Arena.
Plenty of offensive production in the opening 20 minutes saw Sault Ste. Marie out score Elliot Lake 5-2 in the session.
The Thunderbirds’ Jacob Kovacs began the barrage 38 seconds into the contest with his 24th tally of the campaign.
After Nicholas Jameus tied it for the Wildcats just over three minutes later, the Soo struck twice in quick order compliments of Cooper Smyl and Dylan Parsons, who collected his initial NOJHL goal to make it 3-1.
Elliot Lake got one back off the stick of Jonathan Giancotti at 8:22, only to see Colton Hayes connect for the Soo moments later while Nolan Ford, via the power play, finished off the outburst in the session.
It was all Thunderbirds in the middle frame as they blew it open on tallies from Warner Young, Brock Santa Maria, Smyl and Parsons.
Kovacs and Rylan Clemons added to the onslaught in the third with man advantage efforts to extend the big lead.
Connor Taylor’s 15th managed another for Elliot Lake at 7:30 before a fifth power play goal for the Soo, notched by Camden Findlay, rounded out the scoring in the late going.
Clemons collected four assists to go with his tally for a five-point night.
Dakota Meyer made 36 stops to record the win.
Wildcats’ netminders Jonathan Lemaire and Theodore faced a combined 59 shots in defeat.
Game Photos courtesy of Northern Exposures Photography
