When the annual league showcase opens on Tuesday in Sudbury, the Soo Thunderbirds will be the lone unbeaten team in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
The team improved to 9-0-0-0 on Sunday night thanks to a 5-2 win over the Elliot Lake Wildcats at the John Rhodes Community Centre.
A pair of goals in the third period helped seal the win for the Thunderbirds, who opened up a 3-0 lead in the opening period before Elliot Lake battled back to make the game close.
Brendan Miller, Ryan Lawrence, and Jamie Damignani scored in the first period for the Thunderbirds. Josh Bifolchi would get the Wildcats on the board late in the frame.
Elliot Lake’s Carson Andreoli had the lone goal in the second period, scoring not long after the Wildcats killed off a pair of 5-on-3 power plays earlier in the period.
Nick Smith and Tristan Cicchello scored for the Thunderbirds in the third.
Miller finished the night with a goal and an assist while Matthew Bazarin set up a pair of goals for the locals.
Mark Perone set up both Elliot Lake goals.
Sault goaltender Colin Ahern stopped 32 shots.
Justin Vertesi got the start for Elliot Lake but was pulled after giving up two goals on four shots to open the game. Dominic Boily entered the game and stopped 52 shots the rest of the way, including all 24 he faced in the second period.
The Thunderbirds return to action at the NOJHL’s annual showcase in Sudbury on Tuesday. The team will face the Powassan Voodoos on Tuesday and the Cochrane Crunch on Wednesday.
Next home action for the Thunderbirds will be on Oct. 13 against the Rayside Balfour Canadians.