The Soo Thunderbirds exploded to an early 5-0 lead and cruised to a 7-2 win over the Northern Michigan Black Bears on Wednesday night.
The home opening win improves the Thunderbirds record to 2-0 in the young Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League season with the team's longest road trip of the season approaching this weekend. The expansion Black Bears, who play out of St. Ignace, fall to 1-1-1.
Goals by James Marcy on the power play, Aaron Anderson and Bryan Pierce put the Thunderbirds ahead 3-0 after the first period. Matt Dias' marker and Anderson's second of the night short handed gave the Thunderbirds a 5-0 lead mid-way through the second period.
Northern Michigan struck twice late in the second on goals by Bill Griffore and Chris Kraft. Josh Leddy, who also added four assists, on the power play and Mike McMillan rounded the Thunderbirds scoring in the third period.
Thunderbirds goaltender Mike Downer was solid in net stopping 23 of 25 shots fired his way. The Thunderbirds peppered Northern Michigan with 42 shots on goal.
While Thunderbirds head coach Jim Capy is always happy with a victory, he is still searching for his team to play a complete hockey game.
"I though we played a good first and third period but we let up in the second period and let them come back in the game a bit. We should know that (Northern Michigan) is a hard working team over there and that no lead is safe," said Thunderbirds head coach Jim Capy.
"We want to get to the point where we play 60 solid minutes but tonight thought we played only 40. I would like to see us play more as a team and move the puck better as well but these are things that will come with time."
The Thunderbirds will likely be without the services of Alex Butkis for some games after being assessed a major for charging the Black Bears goaltender, a fighting major and a double game misconduct.
In a roster move this week, the Thunderbirds loaned goaltender Rob Cundari to Huntsville for the season for added playing time and will be returned to the Soo next season. With the team short staffed on defense with only four regulars, Capy is hoping to fill that need in time for the weekend.
The Thunderbirds travel to Little Current on Friday night to tackle the Manitoulin Wild before heading north to Iroquois Falls to play the Abitibi Eskimos on Saturday night. The Soo is in Blind River next Wednesday and return home to face the Eskimos on Friday, September 26.
In another NOJHL contest on Wednesday night, Cory McGillis scored 23 seconds into overtime as the Sudbury Northern Wolves defeated Abitibi 3-2. Mike Mills scored two goals for Sudbury.