SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A Jeremy Schroeder goal with seven and a half minutes remaining in regulation proved to be the game-winner as the Soo Eagles went on to defeat the Soo Thunderbirds 4-2 Wednesday night at John Rhodes Community Centre in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s final preseason game of 2026.
The Thunderbirds opened the scoring on the night’s first power play when Gavin Killoran snapped a loose puck into Eagles’ netminder Daryn Szabo, who had just entered the game to replace starter Dalton Hoornstra, who had left moments earlier.
Hoornstra did return midway through the opening period.
Tying it up on a faceoff, the visitors’ Brendan Boberg jumped in and fired a shot through the T-Birds’ netminder Cameron Boville.
Still knotted at 1-1 into the middle stanza, the guests went in front after generating a turnover that led to Sam Gold being spotted alone in front, where he made a quick move and tucked his chance through Boville.
Nathan Maguire then entered in relief for the Thunderbirds midway through the proceedings.
Pulling even 52 seconds into the third saw Adam Pszeniczny hammer in the equalizer for the hosts.
Staying level into the back half of the session, Schroeder picked up the eventual decider for the Eagles prior to the guests finishing it off late with an empty netter to wrap things up.
The NOJHL’s regular season begins Friday on two fronts as the Eagles visit the Espanola Paper Kings while the Iroquois Falls Storm entertain the Timmins Rock in a pair of 7:30 p.m. starts and on flohockey.tv.
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