A pair of goals in the third period were ultimately the difference for the Soo Thunderbirds on Thursday night.
In their first game action, the Thunderbirds skated to a 3-1 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League exhibition victory over the Soo (Mich.) Eagles at the Big Bear Arena in the Michigan Sault Thursday.
Ryan Lawrence scored with 9:26 to go in the final period to break a 1-1 tie and Nico Smith scored with just over five minutes to go in regulation time to seal the Thunderbirds win.
Brendan Miller had the other goal for the Thunderbirds.
Goaltender William Anderson stopped 30 shots for the Thunderbirds.
Ryan Dacks has the lone goal for the Eagles while goaltender Caleb Saver made 23 stops.
The two teams return to exhibition action on Friday night as they wrap up a home-and-home series at the John Rhodes Community Centre. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m.