New faces add offensive punch for Senior AAA Thistles

January 7th, 2012

By Garett WIlliams

Kenora’s Senior AAA Thistles hockey club took its upgraded offence for a test drive against a short-handed Fort Frances squad Saturday and pounded the Thunderhawks 14-1 in the first meeting of the season between the Northwestern Ontario rivals.

Newly acquired Manitoba forwards Jonathon Poirier and Don Melnyk had an immediate impact on the first line with Thistles veteran and captain Sean Hughes. The trio connecting for seven goals, including six and a helper from Poirier alone.

“He’s a goal scorer and that’s exactly why we pursued him,” said coach John Tresoor. “He’s a guy who can put the puck in the net and he showed us.”

Melnyk was good for a couple helpers and brought some physical intensity into the line-up, including a second period tilt with Fort Frances’ Riley Caul.

Kenora built an 8-0 lead in the first two periods and added another six in the third when the Thunderhawks finally managed to solve Thistles keeper Ryan Person.

Tresoor said he expects to have four strong lines when all the players report but noted the Thunderhawks skated only a handful of players in the line-up from the team that knocked Kenora out of the Allan Cup tournament last spring.

“We’ve got to put things in perspective, they’re going to be better once they get their full-time guys but, at the same time, its a combo of both, they were weaker and we were strong.

“We should have beat them 14-1. I would have been disappointed with anything less, to be honest with you, because they were short-handed and we were pretty strong.”

In addition to Poirier’s six, Jaye Bergman, Ryan Bowen and Matt Johnson each potted a pair and Hughes and Mark Richards collected singles.

The Thistles didn’t dress offensive threat Jeff Richards, nor defensive stalwart Trevor Socholotuk.