Clemons leads Thunderbirds to overtime win

It was quite the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League debut for Rylan Clemons on Wednesday night.

Acquired by the Soo Thunderbirds late last week in a trade with the Manitoba Junior League’s Steinbach Pistons, Rylan Clemons had three points, including an assist on the overtime winner as the Soo Thunderbirds beat the Rayside-Balfour Canadians 4-3 on Wednesday night at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

With the Thunderbirds on the power play, Clemons found Avery Rebek in close and the latter beat Canadians goaltender Cameron Lamour high to give the locals the win.

Clemons also had a pair of goals for the Thunderbirds in the victory.

Rebek finished the night with a goal and an assist.

MacKenzie Walkington had the other Sault goal.

Ethan Racz got the start for the Thunderbirds and made 32 saves.

Lamour made 46 saves for the Canadians.

Matthew Belanger, Giordano Biondi, and Oliver Smith completed the scoring for Rayside-Balfour.

Mathieu Dokis-Dupuis assisted on a pair of Canadians goals.

The Thunderbirds improve to 16-12-1-3 while Rayside falls to 21-8-3-0.

The Thunderbirds return to action on Saturday night at home against the Soo (Mich.) Eagles. Puck drop at the John Rhodes Community Centre is set for 7 p.m.