Thunderbirds score two wins on the Island

The Soo Thunderbirds put together back-to-back wins on the road this weekend against the Manitoulin Islanders in Little Current.

On Friday night, the Thunderbirds overcame a 3-1 Manitoulin lead in the first period for an 8-6 win. On Sunday afternoon, the Soo built a 4-0 lead and held on for a 5-1 victory.

Brad DiCandia scored two goals for the Thunderbirds in Sunday's win while singles went to Brett Perlini, Tyler Gendron and Nick Minardi.

Perlini exploded for four goals in Friday's victory with Adam Pyymaki, Jake Reid, Dan Vernell and Gendron picking up singles.

Ryan Dube picked up both wins in goal for the Thunderbirds.

At 20-22-0-4 on the season for 44 points, the sixth place Thunderbirds remain within striking distance of fifth place North Bay in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League standings, trailing by three points with two games remaining in the regular season.

Next Saturday, the Soo hosts North Bay at 7:30 p.m. at the Steelback Centre before Manitoulin visits for the regular season finale on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

*** GAME SUMMARIES:

SUNDAY:

Soo Thunderbirds 5 at Manitoulin 1 Soo Thunderbirds Lineup:

Shawn Bibeau, Matt Conway, Brad Dicandia, Ryan Dube, Tyler Gendron, Mark Hoffman, Rob Johnson, Adam Kauppi, Dylan King, Dan Klever, Tyler Lannigan, Nick Minardi, Travis O Brien, Brett Perlini, Jake Reid, Kyle Rodgers, Dan Vernelli, Randy Wills

First Period 1. SOO: Brad Dicandia (Kyle Rodgers, Matt Conway) 04:52 SH FG

Penalties: Adam Kauppi SOO (INTGT) 2 min 04:28; Tyler Lannigan SOO (INT) 2 min 11:09;

Second Period 2. SOO: Brad Dicandia (Jake Reid, Shawn Bibeau) 04:20 GW 3. SOO: Brett Perlini (Unassisted) 05:27 4. SOO: Tyler Gendron (Nick Minardi, Brett Perlini) 11:40 5. MAN: Justin Hogan (Jeff Mussen, Anthony Fey) 13:00

Penalties: Matt Conway SOO (SL) 2 min 17:20; Ryan Piche MAN (HKG) 2 min 17:35;

Third Period 6. SOO: Nick Minardi (Matt Conway, Ryan Dube) 10:15 PP

Penalties: Nick Esposto MAN (HS) 2 min 06:20; Michael Bondy MAN (HO) 2 min 09:22;

Shots on Goal Soo Thunderbirds 12 12 10 - 34 Manitoulin 10 10 6 - 26 Goaltenders Ryan Dube (SOO) W J.J. Gargour (MAN) L Game Stars 1. Brad Dicandia (SOO) 2. Justin Hogan (MAN) 3. Brett Perlini (SOO) Game Attendance 175

FRIDAY:

Soo Thunderbirds 8 at Manitoulin 6 Soo Thunderbirds Lineup:

Shawn Bibeau, Matt Conway, Brad Dicandia, Ryan Dube, Tyler Gendron, Mark Hoffman, Rob Johnson, Adam Kauppi, Dylan King, Dan Klever, Tyler Lannigan, Nick Minardi, Travis O Brien, Brett Perlini, Adam Pyymaki, Jake Reid, Kyle Rodgers, Dan Vernelli, Randy Wills

First Period 1. SOO: Brett Perlini (Nick Minardi, Mark Hoffman) 00:23 SH FG 2. MAN: Shane Innes (Jason Chevrier, Kyle Gagnon) 14:48 3. MAN: Kyle Gagnon (Shane Innes, Jason Chevrier) 18:03 4. MAN: Brandon Ingraham (Justin Hogan, Kyle Sigouin) 19:47 PP

Penalties: Scott Smith MAN (RO) 2 min 01:59; Scott Smith MAN (RAW) 2 min 01:59; Tyler Lannigan SOO (RO) 2 min 01:59; Tyler Lannigan SOO (HO) 2 min 04:30; Dave Cadorette MAN (RO) 2 min 09:22; Mark Hoffman SOO (HO) 2 min 09:22; Dylan King SOO (RO) 2 min 09:22; Jeff Mussen MAN (SL) 2 min 11:11; Michael Bondy MAN (RO) 2 min 12:21; Dan Klever SOO (RO) 2 min 18:48;

Second Period 5. SOO: Brett Perlini (Unassisted) 05:27 6. MAN: Jason Chevrier (Unassisted) 05:35 7. SOO: Adam Pyymaki (Jake Reid, Mark Hoffman) 15:50

Penalties: Mark Hoffman SOO (CC) 2 min 06:59; Justin Hogan MAN (CC) 2 min 11:14; Kyle Gagnon MAN (RO) 2 min 17:17; Randy Wills SOO (M22) 0 min 17:17; Rob Johnson SOO (CHG) 2 min 17:17;

Third Period 8. SOO: Jake Reid (Adam Pyymaki, Dan Vernelli) 00:39 9. SOO: Dan Vernelli (Adam Pyymaki, Jake Reid) 01:08 10. SOO: Brett Perlini (Tyler Gendron, Dan Klever) 02:50 11. MAN: Kyle Gagnon (Michael Bondy, Jason Chevrier) 05:17 12. MAN: Shane Innes (Jason Chevrier, ) 08:30 PP 13. SOO: Brett Perlini (Matt Conway, Tyler Gendron) 12:01 GW 14. SOO: Tyler Gendron (Adam Pyymaki, Brett Perlini) 16:48

Penalties: Matt Conway SOO (HKG) 2 min 07:59; Dylan King SOO (M20) 0 min 08:30; Justin Hogan MAN (SL) 2 min 09:01; Kyle Rodgers SOO (HKG) 2 min 14:18;

Shots on Goal Soo Thunderbirds 16 13 17 - 46 Manitoulin 13 7 5 - 25 Goaltenders Billy Stone (MAN) L Ryan Dube (SOO) W Travis O Brien (SOO) None Game Stars 1. Jason Chevrier (MAN) 2. Brett Perlini (SOO) 3. Jake Reid (SOO) Game Attendance 232 ***