Skyhawks battle back against Thunderbirds

Soo Thunderbirds defenceman Evan Smith decks Skyhawks forward AJ Shiverdecker. The third period fight woke up a struggling Skyhawks team that was down 1-0. Photo by Chris Dawson.

Story by Michelle Baril

Dube was lit up in the third as the Skyhawks finally awoke from a peaceful slumber that they had enjoyed for the first 40 minutes of play. The handful of fans that made it to Memorial Gardens cheered their team to a gut-wrenching 3-2 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds.

"We pulled it out from somewhere," said Skyhawks Head Coach Ian Swalucynski.

"I think we deserved it."

The Skyhawks, who were just coming off a loss in Sudbury were looking at this game as a must win.

"It's exciting for us, coming off a loss in Sudbury, and getting the opportunity to give 110%," said Skyhawks defenseman and the game's second star Brad Norkum.

The Thunderbirds gained control in the second when Shawn Bibeau slid a pass to Nick Minardi who fired it past goaltender Ian Wilson to open the scoring.

After relieving fellow goaltender and teammate Andre Lapperiere of his duties on Wednesday in Sudbury, Wilson came out and played strong between the pipes for his first start in five games. He stopped 34 of the 36 shots he faced and received the game's first star.

The third period brought three Skyhawks goals but it wasn't so fruitful for Skyhawks' AJ Shiverdecker. Shiverdecker had to leave in the game early in the period, after receiving a mouthful of Evan Smith's knuckles during his dance with the Soo heavyweight.

The fight, however, ingnited a spark underneath the Skyhawks and defenseman Brad Norkum took a feed from Jordan Carroll on a four on four and banged it home to even things up at 1-1. Captain Justin Roy was soon to follow when he found the back of the net with a wrist shot from the slot to give the Skyhawks a 2-1 lead.

That lead didn't last as Ben Davey's shot would elude Ian Wilson during a prolonged 5 on 3 powerplay for the visitors.

In the dying minutes of the third, Norkum picked the pocket of a Soo player and went flying down the ice on a shorthanded breakaway. One too many moves got him and Soo goalie Ryan Dube closed the door, but birthday boy Scott Britton was right there to bury the rebound and give the Hawks the 3-2 lead.

"When he skates, doesn't think, plays hockey, he's (Norkum) the best defenseman in the league," Swalucynski said.

The Skyhawks next host the Abitibi Eskimos Sunday at Memorial Gardens.