T-Birds on to second round
Soo Thunderbirds are the only lower seed team to move on from the first round of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoffs. And it took the Thunderbirds a series comeback that was capped with a road victory in the seventh and deciding game to do so.
The no. 6 seed Thunderbirds rallied from a 3-2 series deficit to win Games 6 and 7 over the no. 3 seed Blind River Beavers.
Facing elimination in Game 6 at home, the Thunderbirds got a 27 save shutout from Noah Metivier and goals from Callum McAuley, James Elliott and Jacob Smith to extend the series to a winner take all Game 7.
And in the Game 7 showdown, the Thunderbirds were outshot 53-33 by the Beavers. But Metivier made 50 saves, James Legler scored two goals and Nate Dugwell, Jon Sonedecker and the aforementioned dup of James Elliott and Jacob Smith all scored solo goals as the Thunderbirds skated to a 6-3 victory in front of 500 fans at the Blind River Community Centre. Ryder Hill, Wyatt Gibson and affiliate player Caleb Walker replied for the Beavers.
Blind River had finished the regular season with a record of 34-14-4 for 72 points while the Thunderbirds were 26-23-3 and 55 points.
Scoring wise in the playoffs, James Legler led the Thunderbirds with three goals, seven assists, 10 points. Callum McAuley was next with four goals, two assists, six points while rookie James Elliott also had six points, including three goals. And Deven Jones McDonald also produced six points for the Thunderbirds, five of which were assists.
Of note, Elliott, who has a 2008 birth date, was a seventh round pick by the Soo Greyhounds at the 2024 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft. Elliott is regarded as a top prospect by the OHL Hounds.
SECOND ROUND
The no. 6 seed Thunderbirds will face the no. 1 seed Sudbury Cubs in one semi-final with Games 1 and 2 set for this Thursday and Friday at Countryside Arena in the Nickel City. Start time is 7 p.m. both nights.
No. 2 seed Hearst Lumberjacks will play the no. 4 seed Timmins Rock in the other best of seven semi final.
When are games 3 an d 4 at John Rhodes??