Thunderbirds hold off a Wild attack

The Manitoulin Wild always seem to give the Soo Thunderbirds fits.

A team that had 12 wins heading into Friday night's contest, the Wild have been able to gain a win against every other Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League team this season and are known around the league as a hard working team.

On Friday night, they showed that work ethic despite dropping a 6-4 decision to the Thunderbirds at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

The Wild took an early 1-0 lead when Barry Rost took a point shot that seemed to handcuff Thunderbirds goaltender Jarrett Michaels less than five minutes into the game.

The Thunderbirds wasted little time in getting back on even terms as Eric Sargent scored to send the game into the first intermission tied at 1-1.

In the second period, the Thunderbirds grabbed a 3-1 lead after D.J. Jelitto scored at 6:50 and Alex Butkus added another at 9:01. A goal by Manitoulin's Eldon Cheechoo, who scored twice and set up another goal in the loss, at 15:16 got the Wild back to within one.

Butkus, who was named the game's first star, scored again late in the period, jamming the puck past Wild goaltender Matt George to give the home team a 4-2 lead after two periods.

The Thunderbirds opened up a 5-2 lead just over five minutes into the third period when Matt Dias cut in on George and beat him high at 5:03.

Cheechoo, who was the game's second star, cut the lead down to two goals at 7:15 and Aaron Assinewai cut the lead down to one 30 seconds later.

The Thunderbirds managed to hold on and a late empty net goal by Mike MacMillan sealed the 6-4 Thunderbirds win.

Following the game, Thunderbirds assistant coach Rob Stopar said that his team allowed Manitoulin to get back into the game, despite holding a three goal lead nearing the midway point of the third period.

"We need that killer instinct," Stopar said. "Especially when it was 5-2. We let them back into the game. We have to be more physical with teams like that."

Stopar added that the Wild are a team that never backs down from a challenge and noted that the Wild have beaten every team in the NOJHL at least once.

"(Manitoulin) doesn't stop going the whole night," Stopar said of the Wild. "We expected our guys to come out flying and they give us a tough game every time we play. We can't sit back. We've got to get that killer instinct especially heading into the playoffs. Every shift's a big shift."

The Thunderbirds are off until Wednesday when they take on the Blind River Beavers at the John Rhode Community Centre. Following the game, they prepare to take on North Bay as the Skyhawks pay a visit to Sault Ste. Marie on Friday in a game that will take place at the Memorial Gardens.