Thunderbirds ride early lead to win over Red Wings

A pair of early goals staked them to a lead they would never relinquish on Friday night on home ice.

Goals by Tyson Doucette and Brock Santa Maria staked the Soo Thunderbirds to a 2-0 en route to a 3-2 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League win over the Elliot Lake Red Wings at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

Doucette opened the scoring just 90 seconds into the contest when he took a turnover at the Sault blueline and proceeded to beat Elliot Lake goaltender Colton Donaldson on a breakaway for his 11th goal of the season.

Just 2:18 later, Santa Maria scored a highlight reel goal on the power play to extend the lead.

The 19-year-old beat an Elliot Lake defender in the right faceoff circle before cutting to the net and beating Donaldson high short side for his seventh goal of the season.

Elliot Lake would get on the board just under three minutes later as Kaden Laverdiere grabbed a loose puck in the right circle after Alex Antoine’s initial shot from the left point was blocked.

Laverdiere proceeded to beat Thunderbirds starter Noah Metivier on the power play to make it 2-1.

Santa Matia scored his second of the night at 5:13 of the second period when he skated down the left wing, beat a Red Wings defenceman in the faceoff circle and then roofed a shot short side on Donaldson to restore the two-goal lead for the home team.

Jovani Moses capped off the scoring in the game, beating Metivier in the final seconds of regulation time.

Creo Solomon assisted on a pair of goals for the Thunderbirds in the win.

Metivier made 14 saves.

Ethan Mercer assisted on both Elliot Lake goals.

Donaldson made 45 saves for the Red Wings.

The Thunderbirds return to action on Saturday night on the road against the Soo (Mich.) Eagles.