First period action between the North Bay Skyhawks and the Soo Thunderbirds Friday night. Photo By: Todd Vandonk
The North Bay Skyhawks scored five times on the power play en route to a 5-3 victory over the Soo Thunderbirds Friday night at Memorial Gardens.
Forward Josh Diamond scored twice with the man advantage, leading the way offensively for the Skyhawks. Justin Piquette, Brad Hummel, and Mike Lawler rounded out the scoring with one goal a piece.
The win improves the Skyhawks record to an impressive 10-3, which is good enough for first spot in the NOJHL.
With the game only thirty four seconds old, the Thunderbirds gave the Skyhawks a glorious opportunity to take over the game when Nick Minardi took a five minute major for crushing Skyhawks defenseman Brad Norkum from behind.
Thirty seconds into the five minute power play, referee Kevin Thomson put the Skyhawks up another man after sending Thunderbird Brad Dicandia to the sin bin for tripping.
On the 5 on 3, Justin Piquette opened the scoring for the home team by tipping in a Bryan Alberts point shot. Less than two minutes later with Minardi still serving his major, a Josh Diamond blast from the point found the back of the net for a Skyhawks two goal lead.
However, the new rules allowed the Thunderbirds a chance to get back into the game, when Thomson handed out two quick minor penalties to locals Kody Canrnevale and Kyle Radigan.
Skyhawks goalie Ian Wilson held up the fort for the Skyhawks, making five quality saves with two men down to preserve the two goal lead.
"That’s what goalies are for. The bottom line is he did come up with some big saves. If you’re going to be a successful team you need someone back there that’s going to make those saves. Whether it’s Ian, Mike or Jeff, we need someone back there that the defensemen feel comfortable with and know they can give them certain shots. We were able to do that tonight," said Darren Turcotte.
Wilson stopped 11 of 12 shots in the first, helping the Skyhawks to a 3-1 lead after one. Tyler Gebdron beat Wilson upstairs with a wrist shot to close gap to one, but local Brad Hummel responded by batting in a loose puck off a rebound for his first junior goal.
The Skyhawks penalty kill was perfection on this night as they killed off nine minors, including two 5 on 3.
"The more we play teams the more I am able to see what they do. We can try and prevent or work in situations that they necessarily don’t want to be put in. Tonight we were able to get the power play goals at key times and our penalty kill was pretty good," said Turcotte.
In the second period the teams exchanged goals; giving the Skyhawks the 4-2 lead heading into the final frame. Mike Lawler scored his first junior goal for the Skyhawks on the power play, with a nice shot that found the roof of the net. Jake Reid responded for the Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds made the game interesting in the third when Brett Perlini walked out from behind the net and stuffed the puck between Wilson legs.
The Skyhawks good fortune continued when Thunderbirds Tyler Lannigan was sent to the dressing room for boarding Jon Drake. Lannigan was handed five and a game, leaving the Skyhawks on the power play for the remainder of the game. Diamond would get his second of the night, minutes into the major with a one timer from the slot, which put away the Thunderbirds for good.
Wilson earned the win in his first start at the Gardens, stopping 27 of 29 shots, which was good enough for the games first star.
