Lumberjacks and Thunderbirds
The last time a champion in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League was crowned was in 2019 when the visiting Hearst Lumberjacks upset the Soo Thunderbirds in the seventh and deciding game of the finals. Three years later, it will again be the no. 1 seed Thunderbirds and the no. 2 seed Lumberjacks facing off for the NOJHL title.
And to be sure, the Thunderbirds will be the more rested team of the two.
The Thunderbirds have played in only eight playoff games, sweeping both the Blind River Beavers and Soo Eagles. Hearst, meanwhile, has played in 13 games thus far, disposing of the Powassan Voodoos in six and the Timmins Rock in seven.
The championship set will begin on Sunday evening at GFL Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie.
NOJHL championship series schedule:
Game 1: Sunday, May 1 @ Soo 7 p.m. (GFL Memorial Gardens)
Game 2: Monday, May 2 @ Soo 7 p.m. (GFL Memorial Gardens)
Game 3: Thursday, May 5 @ Hearst 7 p.m. (Claude Larose Recreation Centre)
Game 4: Friday, May 6 @ Hearst 7 p.m. (Claude Larose Recreation Centre)
Game 5*: Sunday, May 8 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 6*: Tuesday, May 10 @ Hearst 7 p.m. (Claude Larose Recreation Centre)
Game 7*: Thursday, May 12 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
* — if necessary.