Wiggemansen sparks Eagles past Thunderbirds
Submitted By Randy Russon on Sunday, February 12, 2012
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. -- The Border Battle lived up to its billing here on Friday night.
Hulking centre Matt Wiggemansen broke a 3-3 tie with a nifty goal at 18:36 of the third period and pint-sized puck hound Dallas McLaughlin added an empty netter at 19:59 as the Soo Eagles nipped the visiting Soo Thunderbirds 5-3 before 841 fans at Pullar Stadium.
The first-place Thunderbirds still lead the second-seeded Eagles by seven points atop the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League standings. The Thunderbirds have five games to play in the regular season and the Eagles have six, including one here tonight at 7:30 against the high-octane Sudbury Cubs.
Friday's game was a see-saw match and while the Eagles had more scoring opportunities, the Thunderbirds played a spirited game minus several regulars, including forwards Matt Amadio, Jake Wright and Greg Sartoretto and defenceman Dylan Connolly, among others.
Thunderbirds goalie John Kleinhans was outstanding, making 44 saves, several of them of the close-in variety. At the other end, while not nearly as busy, Luis Puig turned in an 'A' grade effort for the Eagles with 33 saves.
Wiggemansen's game winner was his second of the contest as the 20-year old forward continued an impressive return from a leg injury which caused him to miss 35 games this season. Wiggemansen has 13 points, including five goals, in just nine games this season.
Tyler Jones and Connor Lyons also scored for the Michiganders.
Defencemen Corey Jackson and James Delayer and forward Micky Sartoretto replied for the Thunderbirds.
Sartoretto's goal tied the game in the third period and it was a beauty. The big captain threaded his way through a pair of Eagle defenders and as he was falling to the ice, he beat Puig with a rising shot on the glove side.
Thunderbirds head coach Preston Mizzi was assessed a misconduct at the end of the game. Mizzi went on the ice to protest the officiating of referees Dan Crimin and Charlie Gimpel.
Mizzi may have had reason for his outburst. The Thunderbirds were assessed nine of the 11 penalties called in the game, including all four in the third period.
Regardless of the penalty total, the Eagles were definitely the better team on this night and were full marks for the victory.
