Thunder perfect at Bantam League showcase

The Soo Thunder started the Northern Ontario Bantam Hockey League regular season schedule with four straight wins over the weekend in Sudbury.

Playing in the annual NOBHL Showcase Weekend, the Thunder cruised past the North Bay Village Variety Blades, the Timmins Technosub Rangers and the Sudbury Wolves before edging Onaping Falls in their final game.

The Thunder are back in the NOBHL this season after playing last season as a minor bantam squad in the Northern International Hockey League. The Thunder and Soo Bantam Greyhounds take turns playing in the NOBHL and NIHL each season in order to work two seasons with the same group of players.

In Sudbury, the Thunder opened with a 11-2 romp over North Bay on Friday as Greig Dear and Nick Beaudoin paced the attack with three goals each. Singles went to Dereck Hurley, Matthew Amadio, Micky Sartoretto, Tyler Hawdon and Drew MacMillan.

On Saturday, Richard MacLellan and Brett Thompson scored twice each while Hawdon and Amadio added one each in a 6-3 win over Sudbury. Later that day, Sartoretto, Hawdon and Thompson scored twice each in a 7-1 victory over Timmins. Hurley added a single.

In their final game on Sunday, the Thunder built a two goal lead after two periods and held on for a 6-5 win over the Onaping Falls Huskies. MacMillan scored twice in the win while singles went to Beaudoin, Joshua Cerasuolo, Thompson and MacLennan.

Michael Doan and Ryan McDonald each made two starts and left with a pair of wins in goal for the Thunder.

The Thunder does not return to NOBHL action until Oct. 15 and 16 when they visit Onaping Falls for a three game set.