Thunderbirds nip Kirkland Lake in overtime

After a road trip that saw them limp home with a win in three outings, the Soo Thunderbirds picked up an overtime win on Saturday night in their return to home ice.

Brandon Warmington scored the overtime winner as the Thunderbirds beat the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 4-3 in double overtime at the Essar Centre. Warmington’s goal came moments after a chance in close was turned aside by Kirkland Lake goaltender Chris Komma.

“He’s missed a few of those this year,” said Thunderbirds coach Warren LaVoy of the opportunities Warmington has had. “The frustration was there and inside he just decided to bear down on his shot and it worked out for him.”

Komma entered the game in the second period for the Gold Miners after the Thunderbirds tied the game up at two on a goal by defenceman Tyler Jones. Darcy Casola and Joseph Duoba also scored for the Thunderbirds in the win. Duoba’s goal, which tied the game at three just 34 seconds after Kirkland Lake had taken a 3-2 lead came after a point shot from Jones deflected in off the back of Duoba’s head and past Komma.

Connor McNally, Alex Perrault and Steven Babin scored for Kirkland Lake in the loss. Bryden Daoust got the start for the Gold Miners, stopping seven of nine shots before being pulled in the second period. Komma came in and stopped 20 of 22 shots the rest of the way.

“We just weren’t ready tonight,” said Kirkland Lake coach Marc Lafleur. “Some guys came to play and some guys didn’t. Some guys are selfish right now, taking selfish penalties and it’s costing our team. It’s going to change.”

Thunderbirds goaltender Joel Horodziejczyk stopped 17 shots for the Thunderbirds in the win.

LaVoy wasn’t pleased with parts of his teams game in the win.

“Overall, 100 per cent effort wasn’t there,” said LaVoy. “They were sloppy at times. When they were moving well, they were feeling good on the bench and on the ice but then they got back to individual play and we were backpedalling again.”

The Thunderbirds return to action with a short two-game road trip that takes the team to Sudbury to take on the Nickel Barons on Oct. 3 before facing the Elliot Lake Bobcats in Elliot Lake on Oct. 6.

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OTHER SCORES

In Blind River, Sebastien Leroux scored twice and set up two goals as the Sudbury Nickel Barons beat the Blind River Beavers in double overtime. Bradley Bell had the overtime winner for the Nickel Barons. Tyson MacLeod scored a pair of goals for Blind River while goaltender Aaron Cormier stopped 61 shots in the loss.

In Iroquois Falls, Brandon Janke scored the overtime winner as the North Bay Trappers beat the Abitibi Eskimos 2-1 in double overtime. Trappers goaltender Greg Dodds stopped 35 shots in the win. Eskimos goaltender Marc Audet stopped 31 shots in the loss.

Photo courtesy James Egan Photography

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