Junior Wolves nip Thunderbirds (6 photos)

Jesse Graham's power play goal early in the third period proved to be the difference as the Sudbury Junior Wolves downed the Soo Thunderbirds 4-3 on Friday night.

The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at the John Rhodes Community Centre saw the Thunderbirds grab a 2-0 lead in the first period as Adam Pyymaki and Nick Minardi, on the power play, scored.

But Ryan Mathes and Shane Neeley while shorthanded scored for the Wolves before the period was out to tie the score at 2-2.

Graham and the Soo's Kyle Johnson traded power play goals in the middle frame.

Thunderbirds goaltender Ryan Dube stopped 31 of 35 shots in the loss while Sudbury counterpart Darren Rowlandson faced 43 shots.

The Thunderbirds are back in action on Wednesday as they travel to Sudbury for a rematch with the Wolves at 7:30 p.m.

*** BEAVERS SCORE OT WIN ON THE ISLAND:

Also on Friday, the Blind River Beavers needed an overtime power play goal from Rob Higgins to beat the Manitoulin Islanders 4-3.

Higgins had two goals on the night while Jeremy Hilliard and Anthony Libonati, who had two assists, also scored for the Beavers. R.J. Panton, Justin Hogan and Stephen Bunston replied for Manitoulin.

(All photos courtesy of Jim Egan)