With player registration and practices out of the way, the first scrimmage took place today for the Soo Thunderbirds 2015 Spring Camp at the John Rhodes Community Centre combining both local and out of town guests suiting up to showcase themselves and make an early impression. Team Red was coached by David Quesnele and Aidan Wright while Team Black was guided by former T-Birds Corey Jackson along with Brian Nanne. The teams played two thirty minute straight periods followed by a ten minute four on four along with full team shootouts at the end.
Team Red jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first getting goals from Robert Ranger, Jordan Picard and Ethan MacKrell. T-Bird midgets forward Jason Bednarski got the first goal for Team Black to cut the lead to 3-1 before Timmins Majors forward Jordan Picard picked up his second goal of the game to give the Red a 4-1 advantage. Nickel City Sons left winger Joel Grandbois answered back for Team Black before Guelph Storm 2015 ninth round pick Nolan Makkonen put the Reds up 5-2. Bednarski’s second of the game cut Team Red’s lead to two before Team Black’s defenceman Max Khull got denied on a penalty shot by goaltender Jarret Ralph and gave his team a 5-3 lead after two.
With a ten minute straight third period in session, T-Bird midgets forward Ryan Mulligan had the lone goal as Team Red doubled up on Team Black 6-3 in the first scrimmage of Spring Camp.
“There’s definitely a lot of good skill out there, hard hitting, good pace but it felt good to compete with those guys and take a step up from midget,” Jordan Picard said after leading Team Red with two goals on the afternoon. “The two goals are definitley relieving because I didn’t want to go back home bageled but overall I think it’s a better feeling going away with the win.” The Timmins Majors centreman added heading into tomorrow, “My defensive work can be better, I can be a bit more stronger on my feet, try to be more gritty and mostly just more aware defensively.”
Soo Thunderbirds 2015 Spring Camp concludes tomorrow morning at 10am from the John Rhodes with a Team 1 vs Team 2 scrimmage.
