Hockey Notebook: Thunderbirds midgets back on home ice

As their parent club split a pair of Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League games over the weekend, the Soo Thunderbirds major midgets were also in action on home ice.

The Thunderbirds played three exhibition games against the Michigan Nationals.

In Friday’s opener, the Thunderbirds and Nationals skated to a 0-0 tie. Joey Roberts picked up the shutout in the tie.

On Saturday night, Artu Lamberg scored a pair of goals and set up another as the Nationals skated to a 7-4 win. Peter Stewart chipped in with a goal and two assists in the win. Matt MacKay had two goals for the Thunderbirds in the loss.

The Nationals capped the weekend with a 5-2 win over the Thunderbirds on Sunday. Brad Thrower and Brendan Gillis scored for the Thunderbirds in the loss while Jared Fanti set up both goals.

The Thunderbirds return to Great North Midget League action on Dec. 17 when they travel to Sudbury to take on the Sudbury Nickel Capital Wolves.

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EAGLES SWEEP WARRIORS

The Soo Eagles swept three games against the Michigan Warriors last week in North American Hockey League action.

The Eagles opened the week with a 4-3 shootout win over the Warriors on the road in Flint. Mitch Vanderburg had a pair of goals in regulation time and the shootout winner for the Eagles. Soo netminder Jack Barry made 37 saves in the win.

Tyler Groat scored twice in the loss for Michigan.

On Friday night, the two teams opened a two-game set at Pullar Stadium in the Michigan Sault. Cope scored the overtime winner as the Eagles beat the Warriors, again by a 4-3 score. Michael Caruso set up a pair of goals in the win while goaltender Sean Keating made 33 saves.

Warriors goaltender Hunter Vorva made 42 saves in Friday’s loss while Dalton Skelly had a goal and an assist.

On Sunday, the two teams needed another shootout as the Eagles picked up a 9-8 victory to cap off the sweep.

Keegan Miller, Brag Pung and Denver Pierce had the shootout goals for the Eagles in the win. Vanderburg led the way offensively with two goals and three assists in the win. Miller had two goals and two assists while Cope also had a four-point night with four assists.

Cody Kuster had two goals in Saturday’s loss for the Warriors.

With the three wins, the Eagles improve to 18-14-1 and trail the NAHL’s North Division-leading Janesville Jets by six points.

The Eagles are back in action on Dec. 19 on the road when they travel to take on the Minnesota Wilderness.

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LAKERS SWEPT ON ROAD

The Lake Superior State Lakers played their final series before Christmas as they traveled to Big Rapids, Mich., to take on Ferris State.

The Lakers dropped both games of the weekend set, losing 5-2 on Friday and then 5-0 on Saturday.

Goaltender Gordon Defiel made 37 saves for the Lakers in Friday’s loss. Offensively, Bryce Schmitt had a goal and an assist while Austin McKay had the other Lakers goal.

Zach Dorer had a goal and an assist for Ferris State in Friday’s win while Ryan Lowney and Zach Szajmer had two assists each.

On Saturday night, C.J. Motte stopped all 24 shots he faced for Ferris State in the shutout. Andrew Mayer had a goal and an assist in the win while Justin Buzzeo and Simon Denis set up two goals each.

Defiel stopped 35 shots in the loss.

The Lakers are back in action on Dec. 28 when they take on Cornell in the first game of the Florida College Hockey Classic in Estero, Fla.

The tournament, which is hosted by the ECHL’s Florida Everblades will also feature Notre Dame and Miami (Ohio).