Thunderbirds run out of gas against Black Bears

A short bench finally did the Soo Thunderbirds in against the Northern Michigan Black Bears.

The Black Bears scored three times in the third period to score a 5-3 win over the Thunderbirds in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action on Wednesday night at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

The Thunderbirds, devastated by suspensions, played the game with 10 forwards and five defenseman including two call-ups from the Soo North Stars AAA Midgets.

The Thunderbird suspensions stem from a series of fights that occurred after the final buzzer last Friday against the Sudbury Junior Wolves. While Zac McNally returned to the roster for the game, Chris Towell and Tyler Lannigan sat out the final game of two-game suspensions and Justin Shelleby sat out the second of a four-game suspension.

Northern Michigan sealed the win midway through the third period when Sean Farley scored a beautiful shorthanded marker to put the visitors ahead 4-1. Farley strolled in on a breakaway, stopped at the top of the crease and waited for Thunderbirds' goaltender Michael Maulucci to drop before roofing the puck into the net.

Drew Jarrett and Adam Kauppi on the power play and Tyler Gendron scored for the Thunderbirds. Kauppi and Gendron also picked up an assist each.

"In the first and second period I thought we played well," said Thunderbirds head coach Pat Carricato, who is filling in for Toots Kovacs while the skipper is helping coach the Soo Greyhounds.

"We had a lot of chances but we didn't capitalize on them and maybe that would have changed the outcome of the game. We just ran out of gas after the second period. There was nothing in the tank just by watching them skate and the mistakes they were making. The brain shut off somewhere between coming out of the room and coming onto the ice for the third period.

"We're looking forward to a little rest and starting fresh after the holiday."

Farley, who also picked up an assist, scored two goals on the night for Northern Michigan while singles went to Issac Viau, Ryan Murtaugh and Chris Cooper.

Helping the Black Bears cause was the play of goaltender Tony Stoehr, who made several key saves throughout and stopped 38 of 41 shots in total.

"Tony played well, especially after coming off a groin injury," said Black Bears head coach Bart Jarrett. "He held us in there especially when we took those penalties in the third. We made the most of our chances. At times we outplayed them in their zone but that's a tired group over there."

The loss drops the Thunderbirds record to 18-10-1 for 37 points while Northern Michigan improves to 15-9-4 and pulls to within three points of the Birds with a game in hand for first place in the western division.

The Thunderbirds will take a brief holiday before heading to Newmarket on Boxing Day for the Rogers Television Jr. A Showcase Tournament which runs from Dec. 27-30. The team returns to NOJHL action on Jan. 4 in Sudbury.

*** NOJHL ALL-STAR TEAM:

The NOJHL announced the roster of all-stars that will be facing the Under-20 West Siberia All-Stars in North Bay on January 3. The roster does not include members of the Abitibi Eskimos as the Iroquois Falls squad will face the all-stars on night earlier at the Jus Jordan Arena.

Soo Thunderbirds head coach Toots Kovacs will also serve as an assistant to North Bay head coach Kevin Kerr.

Goaltenders Mike Lalande (North Bay) Billy Stone (Manitoulin) Tony Stoehr (Northern Michigan)

Defensemen Nick Jelitto (Blind River) Quinn Waller (North Bay) Jeff Maronese (Manitoulin) Alex Ward (North Bay) Jim Ceglarek (Northern Michigan) Steve Miller (Sudbury) Rob Bonhomme (Sudbury) Tyler Lannigan (Soo)

Forwards Mike McMillan (Soo) Ryan Maunu (Soo) Brian McGarry (Sudbury) Mike Caprio (Northern Michigan) Adam Cook (North Bay) Nick Heins (Sudbury) Jesse Gionette (Blind River) Tyler Gendron (Soo) Sean Farley (Northern Michigan) Justin Roy (North Bay) Shane Bailey (Blind River) Mark Thorburn (Soo)

Alternates (in case of injury or suspension) Jordan Prevost (Sudbury) Chris Towell (Soo)

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