Fort Knox, Blind River
Soo Thunderbirds have taken a 3-1 lead in their first-round, best-of-seven, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoff series with Blind River Beavers.
But it hasn’t been easy for the Thunderbirds, who finished in first place during the NOJHL regular season, 75 points ahead of the last-place Beavers.
Two of the Soo’s three wins in the series to date have been by 3-2 scores, including Saturday night in Blind River.
It was another strong showing between the pipes on Saturday for Blind River goalie Dylan Knox, who stopped 39 of 42 shots. Knox had come on in relief in Game 3 of the series and stopped 14 of 15 shots after taking over from starter Jessie Morin.
In 84 minutes of work since replacing Morin, Knox has stopped 53 of 57 shots for a .930 save percentage and 2.84 goals-against-average.
Morin has also played well in the Blind River net, with 105 saves on 115 shots in 156 minutes for a .913 save percentage and 3.86 goals-against-average.
At any rate, the Thunderbirds can wrap up their series with the Beavers tonight as Game 5 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Soo’s Essar Centre.
PHOTO: Beavers goalie Dylan Knox, in action on Saturday night in Blind River. (Photo by Reg Clark.)
Even though the Beavers didn’t win last night they put up a great fight.
Fans were sure excited when the goals were scored.
I am sure we saw feathers flying around the T-Bird bench.
For the under-dog team to give their all to these games just shows what playoffs are about and how close the scores can be.
Win or loose tonight it has been a great series.
Good job BEAVERS, we will be there cheering you on tonight.
Heading into tonites game, I would like to see the Beavers give it 110 % every player,
they can win tonite . We havent been this far in playoff level for a while and another victory for the Beavers would make a lot of people happy.
C’mon Beavers, we know you can do it !!!
This Blind River Beavers play-off run has been great and I wish them well, but it also begs the question of where was this effort during the regular season. Something was missing this season and hopefully that can be corrected going forward.
Great game Dylan Knox…we were lucky to have you in Blind River so thanx for what you brought to our Town and our Team. … Good luck young man!
Young Mr. Knox is a credit to his Family! I cannot recall the last time that one of the player’s on the Beavers showd as much class as Dylen has.
May his dreams of playing NCAA Hockey be fulfiled.!
Lots of talk around town as to the future of the Beavers – will they have a team next season or…not? The new Coach made the team better I do not think there is dout about this…however fan support just is not there like other years.
I hope this work’s out altho the Beavers Board has turned off sponsers who used to support the team but they no longer do.
The Knox kid is a NCAA Goalie from what I seen of him 3 times now this season imho.
Congratulations to the Blind River Beavers, on what was a hard fought battle against a highly ranked T-Birds squad. Great job boy’s ! all the best in your future endeavors.
Dylan Knox FIRST CLASS ALL THE WAY!
Thanks for reconizing our MVP Randy!!!
Number 1.
I wood rather be a Blind River Beaver and be proud dammit!!!!!
Good Luck to our “Florida boy” Dylan Knox so proud to be a Blind River Beaver we thank you.
Dylan dont forget about Lake State in Soo Mich may be RR can hook you up.
Congradulations to the Beavers, you put up a damned good fight.
Good luck to all of you in all your future endeavors, you deserve it.
Hope to see most of you back next season, rested and ready to go.
We enjoyed spending our winter watching you guys and the improvements
that you made with your lives and skills over the season.
It was a hard year but you made us so proud to be a Beaver Fan.
Thanks to each one of you.
Listening to RR and Dylan Knox on the Radio what a heart-warming Inter-view!
Blind River should hold a Tryout Camp in the SAULT and INVITE every player who played for the SOO INDIANS MIDGETS.
Great interview with Randy and Dylan on the ESPN Hockey Show last night as they told the storey of Dylan’s adventure’s from Florida to BR and his 1 Season with the Beavs.
I have said many times that Randy is the one who drives the interest in the Beavers when RR writes up about us and give attention to us the better it is and fan’s and ssponser’s talk about us more.
The Beavers should get RR on board with them for more articles about the Team and the Player’s just my opinion.
I agree about its better when RR writes about the Beavers as he is #1 Sports Writer and the Beavers should have this guy on board and on there side. When I played for the Beavers RR came to many of our games and did the Radio Show here once in awhile and he was writing about our Team every week and no coincidence we had WAY MORE Fans’s back then.
Good goalie Dylan Knox! Kept Blind River in the series thats for sure.