SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The Elliot Lake Wildcats scored twice in the final 10 minutes of regulation to pull out a 3-1 road decision over the Soo Thunderbirds in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Sunday evening at John Rhodes Community Centre.
Neither side would convert offensively until deep into the first period when Elliot Lake connected with 38 seconds left in the session as Cole Burton collected his second of the season with an assist going to Clark Allair, who ran a modest point streak to three with the helper.
It stayed 1-0 for the visitors through 40 minutes, but on the power play to begin the third, Sault Ste. Marie used that man advantage to draw level as Spencer Van Tiem supplied the equalizer 73 seconds into the third as he picked up his third of the season.
Up a man themselves midway through the period, the Wildcats regained the lead with 9:11 to go as William Bucsis notched his 14th of the campaign with assists going to Brett Crook and Jacob Kelly.
The scoring play gave each member of the trio points in five straight outings.
Allair then added some insurance with 35 seconds to go to complete Elliot Lake’s fifth straight win.
Logan Sawka was called upon to make 36 saves to record the victory for the Wildcats while Brandon Gordon faced 28 shots in defeat for the Thunderbirds.
Photos courtesy of James Egan’s Sports Photography
