Thunderbirds double up Eagles in critical late-season contest

With the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League regular season winding down, the Soo Thunderbirds picked up a pair of important points on Friday night.

A three-goal second period was the difference for the Thunderbirds as the team skated to a 4-2 win over the Soo (Mich.) Eagles at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

The Eagles opened the scoring in the contest as Nolan Hendry scored his 16th goal of the season in the final minute of the opening period.

Daniel Beaupre tied the game for the Thunderbirds with his 19th goal of the season just over six minutes into the second period.

Defenceman Declan Gallivan gave the Thunderbirds a 2-1 lead just over two minutes later and Jacob Smith added a power play marker with just over three minutes to go in the middle stanza to give the Thunderbirds a 3-1 lead heading into the third.

The Thunderbirds added some insurance when Connor Stokes made it a 4-1 game at 12:56 of the third period.

Cooper Fredericks capped off the Eagles scoring with his seventh goal of the season with 5:16 to go in the game.

Gallivan finished the night with a goal and an assist for the Thunderbirds while Jonathan Sonendecker assisted on a pair of goals.

Goaltender Kolton Bourret made 21 saves for the Thunderbirds while Anthony Zolezzi stopped 23 for the Eagles.

With the win, the Thunderbirds improve to 31-13-4-1.

The Eagles fall to 29-19-1-2.