It’s early on in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League season, but it’s been a great start for Soo Thunderbirds forward Lucas Theriault.
The Sault Ste. Marie product had another big night for the club on Sunday with a goal and three assists as the Thunderbirds beat the Elliot Lake Wildcats 6-1 Sunday at the John Rhodes Community Centre.
It’s the second four-point night for Theriault, who had two goals and two assists in the Thunderbirds season-opening win over the Soo (Mich.) Eagles on Sept. 6.
The 18-year-old now had three goals and eight points in three games this season.
Defenceman Steven Bellini chipped in with a goal and two assists while Noah Boman and Kaidan McDonald also had multi-point nights with a goal and an assist each.
Avery Rebek and Tyler Malpass also scored for the Thunderbirds.
Goaltender Colin Ahern stopped 24 shots for the locals.
Elliot Lake goaltender Greg Moon stopped 38 shots in the loss while Robert Carr had the lone Wildcats goal.
The win improves the Thunderbirds record to 3-0-0-0 while Elliot Lake falls to 1-3-0-0.
The Thunderbirds return to action on Sept. 21 on the road in Espanola against the Express before returning home two nights later to face Elliot Lake. Puck drop at the John Rhodes Community Centre is 7 p.m.
In other action around the NOJHL on Sunday, Sault product Justin Mauro continued his solid start to the season with the Blind River Beavers. Mauro set up three goals as Blind River posted a 10-2 win over the Espanola Express. Mauro has nine points in five games this season. Riley Nadeau had three goals and three assists to lead the Beavers offensively in the win.