Thunderbirds win overtime contest

The Soo Thunderbirds picked up their fifth consecutive win on Wednesday night.

After a 2-2 start, the Thunderbirds improved to 7-2 as they beat the Blind Rover Beavers 4-3 in double overtime in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

Matt Caruso scored 57 seconds into the second overtime period to lift the Thunderbirds to the win in a game that saw them battle back from a 3-1 deficit.

Jaren Bellini had a pair of goals for the Thunderbirds in the win while Eric Hillock also scored. Goaltender Mario Culina stopped 25 shots.

Goaltender Nick Kazmierczak stopped 53 shots for the Beavers in the loss. Alex Hulford, Nathan Johnson and Chris Corgan scored for Blind River.

With the win, the Thunderbirds sit in a tie for second in the NOJHL’s West Division with a 7-2-0-0 record. The Elliot Lake Wildcats are also 7-2-0-0. The Sudbury Nickel Barons lead the division with a 7-2-0-2 record. Blind River falls to 0-9-0-1 with the overtime loss.

The NOJHL’s other game saw Elliot Lake pick up a 4-3 overtime win on the road against the Sudbury Nickel Barons.