Thunderbirds open homestand with loss

The Soo Thunderbirds opened a lengthy homestand on a tough note on Friday evening.

The Thunderbirds kicked off their seven-game Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League homestand with a 3-2 loss to the Cochrane Crunch at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

Matt Pinder and Joey Ogden scored for the Thunderbirds in the loss. Brett Jeffries set up both goals.

Brian Kment stopped 30 shots for the Thunderbirds.

Cody Gratton scored all three goals for the Crunch in the win. Goaltender Brett Young made 31 saves.

The Thunderbirds have dropped two of three and falls to 19-4-0-2 with the loss. They sit four points ahead of the Elliot Lake Wildcats in the NOJHL’s West Division and are now one point behind the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners for top spot in the league.

The Gold Miners picked up a 4-3 overtime win over the Powassan Voodoos in Powassan on Friday night in other league action. Jamey Lauzon had the overtime winner for the Gold Miners. Ryan Aubertin had a goal and two assists for Kirkland Lake while Powassan goaltender Matt Young made 41 saves in the loss.

In Friday’s other NOJHL game, Spencer MacLean had a goal and two assists to lead the Elliot Lake Wildcats to their fifth-straight win in a 7-1 drubbing of the Blind River Beavers, Blind River goaltender Nick Kazmeirczak stopped 57 shots in the loss.

The Thunderbirds return to action on Dec. 12 when they host the Blind River Beavers.