Photos: Bob Davies
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – Riding a four-goal night from Gavin Killoran, the Soo Thunderbirds impressed on their way to a 6-2 victory over the Espanola Paper Kings in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Friday at John Rhodes Community Centre.
The Thunderbirds began the scoring 3:38 into the contest when a crisp stretch pass by Gianmarco Mastroianni hit Adam Pszeniczny streaking down the right wing where he went in and wired a shot past Paper Kings’ netminder Logan Vale.
Sault Ste. Marie added another 10 minutes later when Killoran spun down low and banked an attempt off Vale and into the net.
Moving to the middle frame, Killoran added to his offensive outburst shortly after the midway point of the proceedings when he neatly tipped in a Mastroianni point shot for his second of the evening.
Not done there, Killoran notched his first career NOJHL hat trick when he chose to shoot on a two-on-one and sizzled a shot off the post and in.
Adding to the outburst before the second intermission, the T-Birds’ Callum McAuley darted down the left wing and muscled his way in before pumping in a short-side wrister.
That saw Espanola make a goaltending change, with Jack Helkie entering in relief.
The visitors eventually solved Soo starter Ryan Hicks early in the third when Callum Millar worked his way out from the side boards and put a pass in front that Samuel Gravel lifted in for his first of the campaign.
Adding another, Matthew Spencer snagged a clearing attempt then ended up beating Hicks from a tight angle at 7:54 to get the guests closer.
Finishing off his big night on the power play, Killoran buried a cross-ice feed from McAuley to round out the scoring.
That final tally gives the rookie forward eight markers in his past six league outings.
With the win, the Soo improves to 17-7-1-1 overall and in defeat, the Paper Kings fall to 16-7-0-1.
