Photos: Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – A sizzling Soo Thunderbirds side skated to their 12th consecutive Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League victory Saturday, with a 4-1 win over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners in a feisty contest at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
A late first-period power play helped Kirkland Lake open the scoring when Riley Babich stuffed in a loose puck at the top of the crease, past Sault Ste. Marie starter Maverick Fletcher at 18:33.
Drawing even late in the middle frame, Thunderbirds’ defenceman Adam Kukko pinched in from the left point and buried a feed across from Daniel Beaupre at 18:15 on Gold Miners’ goaltender Trent Boryszczuk.
In the third, the Soo went in front at 8:45, while up two skaters, as Jackson Truchan stuffed in a loose puck from the left of the crease.
Still on the power play, the T-Birds struck once more, less than a minute later, thanks to Quinn Myles blasting a one-timer from up top.
Callum McAuley then iced for the Soo with an unassisted empty netter in the final seconds to conclude the scoring.
The surging Thunderbirds improve to 39-13-4-1 with the result while the Gold Miners conclude their season at 10-41-5-2.
