Two games of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League West Division final were held at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex this week, with both going to the Soo Thunderbirds in their battle against the Greater Sudbury Cubs.
In the series opener, April 6, the Soo Thunderbirds picked up two goals apiece from Wyatt Marlow and Jackson Truchan to help send them on their way to a 5-2 victory over the Cubs.
The visiting Thunderbirds provided the initial tally of the series, 13:20 into the contest, as Daniel Beaupre came down the right wing and sent a long cross-ice pass over to Marlow, who fired a shot past Cubs’ netminder Noah Metivier from inside the left circle.
A late power play helped Sault Ste. Marie take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission off a rush that saw Dharan Cap set-up Truchan, who easily steered in his fifth of the playoffs into an open net.
Up a player themselves near the midway mark of the match-up, Greater Sudbury got on the board when Samuel Assinewai finished off a goal-mouth scramble by jamming one past Thunderbirds’ goalkeeper Landon Miller.
Another late-period strike by Truchan helped send the Soo to the dressing room while up by a pair after 40 minutes, banging in his second of the evening – off a Marlow shot – that hit the end boards and came right out to the surging Thunderbirds forward. Truchan leads all NOJHL skaters in playoff scoring with 14 points.
Extending their edge early in the final frame, the Thunderbirds blocked a shot and countered in transition on an odd-man rush that was finished off by Marlow, who tucked in his second of the night on Metivier.
Greater Sudbury pulled to within a pair on a two-on-one where Billy Biedermann fed Oliver Smith, who went top shelf over the blocker of Miller, with 12:17 to play.
Pushing hard to get closer, the Cubs had a late power play and their goalie out for an additional skater, however the Soo held firm defensively, then capped off the road triumph in the final moments as Marlow sent a pass over to Cap, who scored into the empty net to give him goals in six straight playoff contests.
Game two
Game two at home found the Cubs hoping for a good Good Friday, once again at home, with the puck hitting the ice at 7:05 p.m. at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
Kaden Dundas hammered in a nice goal and set-up another with a nifty pass to help send the Soo Thunderbirds on their way to a 5-2 decision over the Greater Sudbury Cubs Friday evening in Game 2 of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League West Division final.
Looking for goals in seven straight playoff games, Sault Ste. Marie’s Dharan Cap had a great chance early on as he was sent in alone on a break. His wrist shot eluded Greater Sudbury starter Noah Metivier, but rang off the post and sailed into the corner to keep the contest scoreless.
The Thunderbirds opened the night’s scoring on the power play as Youssef Chaouachi swooped in and buried a rebound off a Justin Mauro attempt that Metivier could not corral.
Drawing even a couple of shifts later, the Cubs tied it thanks to Samuel Assinewai, who picked off a pass in the neutral zone, then darted down the left wing before firing one from a sharp angle that leaked through Soo netminder Landon Miller.
Tied at one into the second period, the Thunderbirds retook the lead at 3:33 by converting via the man advantage once more, with defenceman Dundas cranking in a one-timer from the left circle on a five-on-three.
Adding another moments after the mid-period break, Samuel Lake sent a feed in front that was steered in by affiliate forward Declan Gallivan for his first in a Thunderbirds’ jersey.
The Cubs brought it back to within one while up a skater early in the third, compliments of Assinewai as he skated up ice, controlling the puck in the Soo zone before finishing off his second of the evening.
Regrouping, the Thunderbirds collected some insurance with three and a half minutes to play when Dundas made a terrific cross-ice pass that was quickly finished off by a hard-charging Daniel Beaupre driving to the net.
Cap then wrapped up a fifth playoff road win in a row for the Soo as he slid one into an empty net in the final seconds to give him tallies in seven consecutive postseason contests.
This gives the Thunderbirds a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven affair, as they now head home to host Game 3 Monday at John Rhodes Community Centre, at 7 p.m.
The full schedule of this NOJHL West Division Final is below:
Game 1: Thunderbirds 5 Cubs 2
Game 2: Thunderbirds 5 Cubs 2
Game 3: Monday, April 10 at Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 4: Tuesday, April 11 at Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 5*: Thursday, April 13 at Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 6*: Saturday, April 15 at Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 7*: Tuesday, April 18 at Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
* Game may not be necessary
