Thunderbirds fly past the Islanders

The Soo Thunderbirds were certainly happy to be back on home ice.

After playing five straight games on the road, the Thunderbirds picked up a 6-1 victory on home ice over the Manitoulin Wild on Sunday night.

The game was the Thunderbirds first on home ice since Oct. 19 when they dropped a 4-1 decision to the Northern Michigan Black Bears.

The Wild got off to a solid start in the first period, taking the lead after Dale Herodier scored at 11:33.

A Mike McMillan goal at the 19:00 mark tied the game but the Islanders were certainly giving the Thunderbirds all they could handle.

The Thunderbirds put themselves in the drivers seat in the second period as Justin Shelleby on the power play and Kyle Rodgers scored just under four minutes apart. The goals sent the game into the third period with the Thunderbirds holding a 3-1 advantage.

In the third, McMillan scored his second of the night at 12:51 while Drew Jarrett scored 27 seconds later to put the locals ahead 5-1. Rodgers capped off the night by picking up his second goal of the night with just four second remaining to make the final 6-1.

“I thought Manitoulin played a very good road game,” said Thunderbirds coach Toots Kovacs. “They’re a very hard-working hockey team. You can’t take them for granted just because of where they are in the standings. (Islanders coach Todd Stencill) has them playing very well. It was just a matter of us wearing them down in the third.”

“I thought our forwards played very well,” Kovacs added. “The ‘D’ tightened up in the second and third and didn’t give up too many shots. Mike Maulucci made some saves in the first period which was big for us. In general, I thought we got better as the game went on and we’re looking forward to Friday against Abitibi.

"Unfortunately we lost Adam Kauppi to a high stick to the face that needed some stitches which meant I had to juggle up the lines. I asked guys to play different positions and they responded. It’s a good thing to see. I think it shows other teams that they can’t match lines with us because we don’t know what we’re going to put out there next.”

“We need to capitalize on our chances and when we didn't get the early breaks...well, we just can't afford that,” said Stencill. “I thought young Matt Aube played well in goal and as a team, I liked our effort.”

Kovacs was pleased with the play of a pair of veterans in the game as well, McMillan and goaltender Michael Maulucci.

“(McMillan’s) a good player and he’s going to score a lot more goals for us,” said Kovacs. “He’s only got a couple this year so far but that’s not worrying us. It’s what he contributes to this team when he’s not scoring…he’s forechecking, he’s passing the puck, and he’s working the power play. He’s doing all those good things for us. The goals will come so we’re not worried about that.”

“(Maulucci’s) a proven goaltender in this league. We look to him for the big saves and he did that for us in the first period. Manitoulin picked up 15 shots in the first period and I think ten of them were very good scoring opportunities.

"Michael’s always in the game no matter how many shots he gets. He’s talking to his defensemen, he’s telling them they have guys on them…he’s like a third defenseman out there. I can’t say enough about Mike Maulucci. Since I’ve been with the Thunderbirds he’s saved our bacon a few times. I’m glad to see him pick up the victory.”

While Kovacs was praising his veterans, the Islanders were struggling through the loss of two of their own. Veterans Dennis French and Darren Thib have both left the team and are awaiting trades.

Stencill said the Islanders are “disappointed that Dennis wants to move on but like I said, we'll make a trade that is going to benefit us. We didn't ask for this.”

French cited wanting to play in a league with more exposure as his reason for the request while Thib would like to be dealt back to the Ontario Provincial League, the league from which he was acquired earlier this season.

The Thunderbirds next action has them hosting the Abitibi Eskimos on Nov. 11 at the John Rhodes Community Centre. Game time is 7:30 p.m. The following night will see the Thunderbirds travel to Blind River to take on the Beavers.

*** NORTHERN MICHIGAN SPLITS AT HOME:

The Northern Michigan Black Bears split a pair of home games this weekend, dropping a 5-4 decision to the Sudbury Junior Wolves on Friday and then defeating Manitoulin 5-1.

On Friday, Jake Watchorn, Sean Farley, Anthony Perdicaro, and James Ciotti scored for the Black Bears but it wasn't enough as the Wolves got a late goal from Brian McGarry to beat the Bears 5-4.

The goal was McGarry's second of the night and fourth point. Brenden Biedermann had a goal and two assists for Sudbury.

On Saturday, Tony Stoehr took a shutout bid late into the third period but was foiled by Corey Metatawabin late in the period on a power play.

In the end, the Bears took home a 5-1 victory. Sean Farley with a pair, Michael Herbert, Derek Stabile and Chase Stevens scored the Black Bears goals.

(With files from Randy Russon)

(All photos courtesy of Jim Egan.)