Hockey Notebook: Midget Thunderbirds heading to game five

The Great North Midget League semi-final between the Soo Thunderbirds and North Bay Trappers is heading to a fifth and deciding game.

Backed by a 107-save performance from goaltender Colton Point, the Trappers beat the Thunderbirds 3-2 in triple overtime on Sunday afternoon to force the fifth game.

The performance was nearly spoiled early in the third overtime when Matt MacKay deflected a shot past Point but the goal was waved off due to an apparent high stick and the game continued until Charlie Iserhoff tipped home a Lucas Nevrecan shot with just under four minutes remaining in the third overtime period.

For the Trappers, who also got goals from Joe Whittet and Jack Drinkwalter, the win evens a series that they came home trailing 2-0 before picking up two wins over the weekend. North Bay won Saturday’s third game by a 4-3 score.

Brad Thrower had both goals in Sunday’s game for the Thunderbirds.

MacKay, Ryan Mulligan and Brendan Gillis scored for the Thunderbirds in Saturday’s loss while Iserhoff, Devyn Martel, Eric Allair and Dawson Meecham scored for the Trappers.

Game vie is set for Tuesday night at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

(With files from BayToday reporter Chris Dawson)

****
EAGLES PICK UP FIVE POINTS

The Soo Eagles secured five of a possible six points in North American Hockey League action over the weekend against the Springfield Jr. Blues.

Brad Pung scored twice for the Eagles on Thursday night as the Eagles opened the weekend with a 2-1 win. Chad Catt made 30 saves for the Eagles. Mike Crowley had the lone Springfield goal while Dryden McKay stopped 33 shots.

On Friday Grant Meyer had the shootout winner as the Blues beat the Eagles 3-2 in a shootout. Kelly Klima and Kevin Klima scored for Springfield in regulation time while Niko Della Maggorie stopped 30 shots and seven of eight Eagles shooters in the shootout. Chad Catt made 33 saves and added six saves in the shootout. Trevor Cope and Leo Lumm scored in regulation for the Eagles.

On Saturday night, Jack Berry made 42 saves as the Eagles beat Springfield 4-1.

Lumm scored twice and set up another goal for the Eagles while Michael Caruso also scored a pair of goals. Trevor Stone had the lone goal for the Blues.

The Eagles return to action next weekend on the road with a pair of games against the Janesville Jets.

****
LAKERS SPLIT ON ROAD

In Western Collegiate Hockey Association action, the Lake Superior State Lakers split a pair of games on the road against Northern Michigan.

On Friday night, Sault, Ont. native Michael Doan made 27 saves in a 5-0 blanking of the Lakers by Northern Michigan. Sami Salminen scored a pair of goals while Brock Maschmeyer had a goal and two assists for NMU.

On Saturday the Lakers rebounded for a 3-0 win thanks to a 39-save performance by goaltender Gordon Defiel. Stephen Perfetto had a goal and an assist while Alex Globke and Jayson Angus also scored for the Lakers.

The Lakers wrapped up the WCHA regular season when they open a two-game home series on Mar. 6 against Ferris State.