Thunderbirds maintain hold of second place

The Soo Thunderbirds remain perched in second place following this weekend's action in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

In their lone game of the weekend on Friday night, the Thunderbirds defeated the Northern Michigan Black Bears in the Michigan Sault by a 3-1 score.

Kyle Rodgers scored once and set up another to pace the T-Birds in the win. Tyler Gendron and Mark Thorburn added singles while Michael Maulucci kicked aside 35 of 36 shots for the win in goal.

Soo Greyhounds prospect Anthony Perdicaro replied with the lone Black Bears goal.

With a 29-14-1 record for 59 points, the Thunderbirds, who have four regular season games remaining, are one point up on Northern Michigan with a game in hand for second spot. The North Bay Skyhawks are five points off the pace in fourth place.

The Sudbury Junior Wolves have already locked up first place and a first round playoff bye while the Blind River Beavers, Abitibi Eskimos and Manitoulin Islanders will occupy spots five through seven, respectively, to open the NOJHL playoffs in two weeks.

The Thunderbirds embark on a three-game road trip this coming weekend with stops in Manitoulin on Friday, Abitibi on Saturday and Blind River on Sunday. Sunday's play-by-play can be heard live on SportsJuice.com beginning at 3:45 p.m.