NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016
Thunderbirds earn 3-1 victory over Crunch
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A Noah Solinger goal 9:02 into the second period stood up as the game-winner with his Soo Thunderbirds going on to defeat the visiting Cochrane Crunch 3-1 Sunday afternoon in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Essar Centre.
After a scoreless opening frame, Sault Ste. Marie began the day’s scoring 6:18 into the middle session on defenceman Jake Behse’s fifth tally of the campaign.
Solinger then supplied his second of the season to put the home side up by a pair after 40 minutes.
Cochrane pulled to within one early in the third thanks to a Konnar Decahine shorthanded marker at 2:53.
It stayed 2-1 for the T-Birds until late in regulation when Greg smith iced it for the Soo as he notched an empty netter with 24 seconds remaining to round out the scoring.
Zach Senecal chipped in with two assists to aid the Thunderbirds cause.
Brandon Gordon faced 16 shots in picking up the win for the Soo as the NOJHL West Division leaders improved to 17-7-1-0 overall.
Leighton Williams made 22 stops in defeat for the Crunch, who fell to 16-5-4-1 in 2016-17.
