T-Birds open NOJHL season with perfect weekend

The Soo Thunderbirds are off to a flying start as the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League opened its regular season this week.

The Birds were faced with a tough situation with three games in three days scheduled on the road.

On Friday, the Thunderbirds opened with a 3-1 victory over the Manitoulin Islanders in a penalty filled affair before gunning down the Abitibi Eskimos 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday and edging the North Bay Skyhawks 2-1 on Sunday.

In the shootout win, the Thunderbirds outscored Abitibi 2-0 in the shootout with Tyler Gendron and Nick Minardi scoring.

Jake Reid and Brad DiCandia scored against North Bay while Dan Vernelli and Matt Amadio also scored against Abitibi. Reid, Jerry Petingalo and Amadio tallied against Manitoulin.

With three wins, the locals have an early lead in the standings with eight points under the NOJHL's new rules.

Teams will be given three points for a win in regulation time, two points for a win in overtime and a point for an overtime loss.

The Thunderbirds are back in action next Saturday with their home opener against the Sudbury Junior Wolves at the John Rhodes Community Centre at 7:30 p.m.

*** SUNDAY:

Soo Thunderbirds 2 at North Bay 1 Soo Thunderbirds Lineup: Matt Amadio, Shawn Bibeau, Ian Cosgrove, Brad DiCandia, Ryan Dube, Tyler Gendron, Zack McNally, Trevor McNutt, Nick Minardi, Travis O Brien, Drew Otto, Jerry Petingalo, Adam Pyymaki, Jake Reid, Shawn Siemers, Anthony Silvano, Dan Vernelli, Warren Webster

North Bay Lineup: Scott Britton, Nick Brunette, Kody Carnevale, Jordan Carroll, Zack Clarke, Dustin Fummerton, Tyler Hummel, Brad Hummel, Andre Laperriere, Doug Larden, Mike Lawler, Reilly Miller, Brad Norkum, Jason Pacheco, Justin Roy, Kyle Soder, Garrett Trainer, Ian Wilson

First Period 1. SOO: Jake Reid (Matt Amadio, Tyler Gendron) 15:12 FG

Penalties: Zack McNally SOO (HKG) 2 min 02:31; Nick Minardi SOO (SL) 2 min 06:31; Garrett Trainer NB (INT) 2 min 08:04; Shawn Siemers SOO (HO) 2 min 10:32; Ian Cosgrove SOO (USC) 2 min 12:33; Brad Hummel NB (USC) 2 min 12:33; Nick Brunette NB (RO) 2 min 12:55; Jason Pacheco NB (TR) 2 min 16:12; Trevor McNutt SOO (TR) 2 min 17:36;

Second Period 2. SOO: Brad DiCandia (Matt Amadio, ) 18:54 GW

Penalties: Shawn Siemers SOO (HOST) 2 min 01:58; Jerry Petingalo SOO (TR) 2 min 07:25; Jake Reid SOO (HKG) 2 min 08:36; Reilly Miller NB (TR) 2 min 10:20; Doug Larden NB (TR) 2 min 11:35; Nick Brunette NB (RO) 2 min 14:46; Nick Brunette NB (M20) 0 min 14:46; Mike Lawler NB (CC) 2 min 16:03;

Third Period 3. NB: Garrett Trainer (Justin Roy, Brad Hummel) 19:34 PP

Penalties: Adam Pyymaki SOO (M20) 0 min 01:21; Brad DiCandia SOO (USC) 2 min 03:46; Doug Larden NB (INT) 2 min 13:30; Anthony Silvano SOO (HKG) 2 min 17:57;

Shots on Goal Soo Thunderbirds 7 10 6 - 23 North Bay 10 6 11 - 27 Goaltenders Ryan Dube (SOO) - W Ian Wilson (NB) - L Officials Perry Charette (Referee) T.J. Foster (Linesman) Dennis Harling (Linesman) Game Stars 1. Jake Reid (SOO) 2. Matt Amadio (SOO) 3. Jason Pacheco (NB) Game Attendance 1351 *** SATURDAY:

Soo Thunderbirds 3 at Abitibi 2

Soo Thunderbirds Lineup: Matt Amadio, Shawn Bibeau, Ian Cosgrove, Brad DiCandia, Ryan Dube, Tyler Gendron, Zack McNally, Trevor McNutt, Nick Minardi, Travis O Brien, Drew Otto, Jerry Petingalo, Adam Pyymaki, Jake Reid, Shawn Siemers, Anthony Silvano, Dan Vernelli, Warren Webster

Abitibi Lineup: Francis Albert, Matt Bourgeois, Felix Boutin, Eric Carrier, Josh Clancy, Bruno Colantonio, Corey Cook, Jeremie Dorval, Francois Falardeau, Cody Fox, Benoit Gauthier, Nathan Lepage, Russel Morin, Travis Paradis, David Proulx, Brock Riva, Jason Robin, Dustin Roy, Brent Wesley, Skylar Winsor

First Period 1. SOO: Dan Vernelli (Adam Pyymaki, Nick Minardi) 13:37 FG

Penalties: Zack McNally SOO (GM50) 0 min 07:13; Zack McNally SOO (CFB) 2 min 07:13; Felix Boutin AB (TR) 2 min 08:04; Jerry Petingalo SOO (HO) 2 min 17:55;

Second Period 2. SOO: Matt Amadio (Ian Cosgrove, Shawn Bibeau) 02:05 PP 3. AB: Benoit Gauthier (Skylar Winsor, David Proulx) 06:09

Penalties: Cody Fox AB (HO) 2 min 01:56; Jason Robin AB (HKG) 2 min 09:14; Warren Webster SOO (CTH) 2 min 16:19; Warren Webster SOO (M71) 0 min 16:19; Brent Wesley AB (TR) 2 min 18:39;

Third Period 4. AB: Felix Boutin (Travis Paradis, Francois Falardeau) 15:48

Penalties: Drew Otto SOO (INT) 2 min 03:28;

OT Period No Scoring

Penalties: Shawn Bibeau SOO (RO) 2 min 04:10; Russel Morin AB (RO) 2 min 04:10;

Shots on Goal Soo Thunderbirds 13 16 12 3 - 44 Abitibi 13 8 22 2 - 45 Goaltenders Travis O Brien (SOO) - W Francis Albert (AB) - T Officials Graham Love (Referee) T.J. Foster (Linesman) Tim Foster (Linesman) Game Stars 1. Francis Albert (AB) 2. Travis O Brien (SOO) 3. Adam Pyymaki (SOO) Game Attendance 685 *** FRIDAY:

Soo Thunderbirds 3 at Manitoulin 1 Soo Thunderbirds Lineup: Matt Amadio, Shawn Bibeau, Ian Cosgrove, Ben Davey, Brad DiCandia, Ryan Dube, Tyler Gendron, Rob Johnson, Zack McNally, Trevor McNutt, Nick Minardi, Travis O Brien, Drew Otto, Jerry Petingalo, Adam Pyymaki, Jake Reid, Shawn Siemers, Anthony Silvano, Dan Vernelli, Warren Webster

Manitoulin Lineup: Michael Barrett, Tyrone Blackned, Mike Bondy, Ben Caneba, Ryan Clarke, Marlon Cowboy, Kyle Gagnon, J.J. Gargour, Brandon Ingraham, Devin Lockeyer, Carlo Metatawabin, Cameron Morningstar, Darren Moses, Launie Pheasant, Aaron Piche, Ryan Piche, Rody Rainaldi, Jake Trudeau, Joel Villeneuve

First Period No Scoring

Penalties: Adam Pyymaki SOO (TR) 2 min 01:31; Mike Bondy MAN (ELB) 2 min 02:18; Marlon Cowboy MAN (RAW) 2 min 04:55; Mike Bondy MAN (USC) 2 min 11:41; Brad DiCandia SOO (M20) 0 min 11:41; Brad DiCandia SOO (USC) 2 min 11:41; Kyle Gagnon MAN (HS) 2 min 16:29; Trevor McNutt SOO (HS) 2 min 16:29; Brandon Ingraham MAN (SL) 2 min 16:56; Ben Davey SOO (M20) 0 min 16:56; Ben Davey SOO (HKG) 2 min 16:56; Ben Davey SOO (RAW) 2 min 16:56; Ben Davey SOO (GM21) 0 min 16:56; Jake Trudeau MAN (TR) 2 min 19:28;

Second Period No Scoring

Penalties: Kyle Gagnon MAN (GM21) 0 min 03:37; Kyle Gagnon MAN (M22) 0 min 03:37; Kyle Gagnon MAN (RO) 2 min 03:37; Rob Johnson SOO (GM21) 0 min 03:37; Rob Johnson SOO (M22) 0 min 03:37; Rob Johnson SOO (RO) 2 min 03:37; Jake Trudeau MAN (HS) 2 min 11:37; Dan Vernelli SOO (USC) 2 min 12:41; Tyrone Blackned MAN (USC) 2 min 12:41; Mike Bondy MAN (SL) 2 min 13:10; Brad DiCandia SOO (FI) 5 min 19:50; R.J. Panton MAN (SL) 2 min 19:50; R.J. Panton MAN (FI) 5 min 19:50; R.J. Panton MAN (GM30) 0 min 19:50; Brad DiCandia SOO (GM30) 0 min 19:50;

Third Period 1. SOO: Jake Reid (Anthony Silvano, ) 03:55 2. MAN: Carlo Metatawabin (Unassisted) 08:51 FG PP 3. SOO: Jerry Petingalo (Dan Vernelli, ) 09:00 GW 4. SOO: Matt Amadio (Zack McNally, Jake Reid) 19:35 EN

Penalties: Zack McNally SOO (HKG) 2 min 08:13; Zack McNally SOO (SL) 2 min 13:30; Mike Bondy MAN (BDG) 2 min 16:43;

Shots on Goal Soo Thunderbirds 14 17 11 - 42 Manitoulin 5 10 14 - 29 Goaltenders J.J. Gargour (MAN) - L Ryan Dube (SOO) - W Officials Trevor Vaillancourt (Referee) Steven Blanchard (Linesman) Bob Dumond (Linesman) Game Stars 1. J.J. Gargour (MAN) 2. Jake Reid (SOO) 3. Dan Vernelli (SOO) ***