The border battle between the Soo Thunderbirds and Soo (Mich.) Eagles shifted south of the border on Friday night and it was the Eagles who came away with two points.
Shootout goals by Blake Vaca and Tommy Buis were the difference as the Eagles beat the Thunderbirds 4-3 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Pullar Stadium in the Michigan Sault.
After Vaca and Thunderbirds defenceman Tyler Dunbar traded goals to open the shootout, Buis went backhand stick side on Colin Ahern to give the Eagles the lead in the shootout.
Eagles goaltender Shane Brancato sealed the win for the Eagles by stopping forward Matthew Bazarin on the Thunderbirds final shot.
Bazarin had a goal and an assist for the Thunderbirds while Orrin Grangroth and Kurtis Rogers also scored.
Ahern made 37 saves for the Thunderbirds.
Vaca, Tucker Harris, and Ryan Dacks completed the scoring in regulation time for the Eagles while Dominic Skrelja assisted on a pair of goals.
Brancato made 27 saves for the Eagles, who improve to 3-3-1-1 with the win.
The Thunderbirds fall to 3-6-0-2 with the loss.
After leaving the team for personal reasons, defenceman Kobe Seguin’s rights were acquired from the Thunderbirds by the Leamington Flyers of the Greater Ontario League earlier this week.
In other Thunderbirds news, the team has added forward MacKenzie Walkington to the roster.
Walkington, who played his first game with the club on Friday night, joined the team after starting the season in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with the Neepawa Natives.
The Thunderbirds return to action on Oct. 10 in the opening game of a home-and-home set with the Blind River Beavers in Blind River. The two teams then meet the following night in Sault Ste. Marie at the John Rhodes Community Centre.