Hockey Notebook: Busy weekend for local teams

The Soo Thunderbirds Great North Midget League team was back in action on the road over the weekend with a trio of games in New Liskeard.

On Friday night, Raf Praysner scored three times as the Thunderbirds beat the Cubs 7-5. Noah Boman added a pair of goals for the Thunderbirds while Keegan Stevenson had a goal and an assist. Nick Smith also scored for the Thunderbirds.

Graham Gibson had two goals and an assist for the Cubs on Friday night while Devin Williamson, Cameron Moore and Cade Herd also scored.

On Saturday night, the Cubs recovered for a 9-5 win. Williamson scored three times for New Liskeard while Herd added a pair of goals. Gibson, Cameron Moore, Jordan Legros and Lawson Yatkowsky also scored.

Lucas Theriault scored twice for the Thunderbirds while Stevenson, Nik Gervasi and Steven Billini also scored.

On Sunday, Eric Mondoux had the shootout winner as the Cubs beat the Thunderbirds 4-3. Williamson, Herd and Yatkowsky scored in regulation time for the Cubs.

Smith, Theriault and Stevenson scored for the Thunderbirds.

The Thunderbirds return to GNML action on Dec. 18 in the first game of a three-game set against the Kapuskasing Flyers.

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THUNDERBIRDS BEAT EAGLES AT HOME

The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Soo Thunderbirds continue to roll thanks to a 5-3 win over the Soo (MI) Eagles at the Essar Centre on Sunday night.

Zach Senecal, Caleb Boman and Matt Mitchell had a goal and an assist each for the Thunderbirds while Jake Behse and Mark Tassone also scored.

Thunderbirds goaltender Mario Culina stopped 18 shots.

Alex DiBacco had a goal and an assist for the Eagles.

Jake Saxton assisted on a pair of goals while Jacob Palmerio and Reed Gregory also scored.

Eagles goaltender Jack Hickey stopped 23 shots.
The Thunderbirds return to action next weekend with a pair of road games beginning on Friday night in Elliot Lake against the Wildcats before wrapping up the weekend the following night in Blind River against the Beavers.

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THUNDERBIRD DEFENCEMAN TO COLLEGE

Thunderbirds defenceman Caleb Boman has committed to play NCAA hockey at Niagara University.

The Purple Eagles play out of the Atlantic Hockey conference.

In 71 career games with the Thunderbirds, Boman had 15 goals 57 points.

Boman has seven goals and 27 points in 23 games this season.

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LAKERS SPLIT WITH BULLDOGS

Western Collegiate Hockey Association action continued over the weekend for the Lake Superior State Lakers with a split on home ice against the Ferris state Bulldogs.

On Friday night, Ferris State goaltender Darren Smith made 19 saves as the Bulldogs blanked the Lakers 1-0.

Simon Denis had the game-winner for Ferris State while Lakers goaltender Gordon Defiel stopped 31 shots.

On Saturday night, a three-goal third period lifted the Lakers to a 3-2 win.

Garden River product Owen Headrick had the game-winning goal for the Lakers, scoring his third goal of the season with just over three minutes remaining in regulation time.

Pete Spratte and Alex Globke also scored for the Lakers.

Defiel stopped 36 shots for the Lakers.

Ryker Killins and Andrew Mayer scored for the Bulldogs while Smith made 35 saves.

The Lakers take a 2-3-3 conference record into a pair of WCHA road games next weekend at Alaska (Fairbanks) before returning home for a pair of games on Dec. 11 and 12 against Michigan Tech.