By Matt Stefano
Tonight was the Soo Thunderbirds final home game of the 2014-2015 regular season and prior to the game was a ceremony for our five overage players including Connor Dea, Nick Tassone, David Radke, Eric Hillock and Anthony Miller, who were all playing in their final regular season home game of the NOJHL careers.
After a scoreless first period, it would be Elliot Lake getting on the board first courtesy of Connor Scott’s 8th of the season on the power play at 13:33 from Nathan Campbell and Adam Baxter. Brett Jeffres 19th of the season unassisted at 14:28 tied the game up at one before Owen Headrick put the Soo ahead 2-1 after two at 15:54 with his 4th from Matt Pinder and Matt Caruso.
Adam Baxter’s 25th at 10:26 into the third from Connor Scott and Josef Kittleberger tied things at two. Matt Pinder’s 19th at 17:01 put the Soo back in front 3-2 from Matt Caruso and Nick Sicoly. Then with just 17 seconds to go in regulation, Elliot Lake tied things up at three with the extra attacker courtesy of Nathan Campbell’s 22nd unassisted.
Kyle Salmon’s 3rd of the season from Connor Scott at 3:11 into overtime was the winner as the T-Birds fell 4-3 to the Elliot Lake Wildcats.
Mario Culina made 29 stops on the night.
The T-Birds conclude their 2014-2015 regular season on Saturday, March 7th at 7:30 to take on the Blind River Beavers from the Blind River Community Centre.
Note: Head Coach Jordan Smith and General Manager Keven Cain have both been named to the NOJHL first all star team along with overage defenseman David Radke who was named to the second all star team.
