Game 1 goes to Hearst
Soo Thunderbirds not only lost the opener of their Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League championship series with the Hearst Lumberjacks but they had a remarkable 26-game win streak halted in the process.
Riding the strength of a three-goal performance from Ryan Glazer, the visiting Lumberjacks out-scored the Thunderbirds 6-4 on Sunday to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven set. Game 2 is slated for tonight at GFL Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie.
Hearst was coming off successive six and seven game playoff series triumphs over the Powassan Voodoos and Timmins Rock to get to the championship set.
As for the Thunderbirds, they followed up 18 straight wins to close the regular season with back to back sweeps of the Blind River Beavers and Soo Eagles to reach the finals.
(above photo by Bob Davies)