NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
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A couple of Deven Jones-McDonald third period markers aided in a 5-2 win by the Soo Thunderbirds over the Elliot Lake Vikings Saturday night in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair at John Rhodes Community Centre.
The Thunderbirds began the night’s scoring six minutes in thanks to a face-off win that led to Cooper Labelle stuffing in a rebound off a James McDowall point shot on Vikings’ netminder Noah Davis.
Elliot Lake came back to tie it midway through the first period when Yenry Jibb snapped in a set-up from Nate Dugwell, in eluding Sault Ste. Marie goaltender Lincoln Mellenthin.
Retaking the lead at 15:02, Aiden Atkinson put the Soo back on top as he received a pass from James Elliot then drove to the net where he chipped his chance over Davis.
The home side then took a 3-1 lead to the intermission as Callum McAuley scored on a late power play as he finished off a goal-mouth scramble from the left side.
Action in the second stanza saw the visitors pull to within one at 14:19 thanks to Dugwell ripping one upstairs.
In the third, the Soo went ahead by a pair once more after Jones-McDonald jammed in a rebound off a rising Cam Freeman attempt.
Jones-McDonald then added another midway through the period to help secure the victory as he steered in a James Legler pass from in close.
The victory raises the Thunderbirds record to 12-12-1-1.
With the setback, the Vikings fell to 6-18-1-0.
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