SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A Tristan Cicchello power play marker 14 minutes into second period proved to be the game-winner as the Soo Thunderbirds went on to edge the Blind River Beavers 2-1 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter Tuesday evening at John Rhodes Community Centre.
The contest was scoreless until the latter stages of the first period when Noah Boman put the Thunderbirds on the board at 18:55 as he notched his 22nd tally of the season.
Moving on to the middle stanza, Blind River netted the equalizer three and a half minutes in on Nash Hatcher’s 12th of the campaign with help from Ryan Peck and Ryan Nielsen.
Sault Ste. Marie came back to regain the lead via the power play as Cicchello collected the game-winner at 14:07, in what proved to be the evening’s final goal.
Thunderbirds’ starter Colin Ahern did the rest finishing with a solid 36-save performance to record the win.
Beavers’ netminder Garret Boyonoski made 26 stops in the narrow setback for the visitors.
Game Photos courtesy of Rod Aubertin – SSM Photos