Thunderbirds grab series lead over Cubs

As their first round Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League playoff series shifted to Sault Ste. Marie, the Soo Thunderbirds took care of business on home ice on Monday night.

On the heels of an overtime win in game two of the series on the road, the Thunderbirds skated to a 4-2 win Monday night over the Greater Sudbury Cubs at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

With the result, the Thunderbirds now hold a 2-1 series lead on the Cubs after dropping the opening game in Sudbury on Thursday night.

Monday’s game saw the Thunderbirds open the scoring just over 13 minutes into the contest as Harley Wardell picked up his first goal of the series on a shot from the left circle that beat Cubs goaltender Noah Metivier.

The Thunderbirds added to the lead 1:44 later with a power play goal off the stick of Kelsey Ouellet. The veteran took a shot from the high slot that found its way through traffic and past Metivier at 14:56.

Sudbury cut into the lead 1:18 later as Marshall McCharles scored his second of the series. McCharles beat Thunderbirds goaltender Kolton Bourret from the left circle high glove on a knuckler.

The Thunderbirds made it a 3-1 game just over two minutes into the second period as Jonathan Sonedecker beat Metivier with a shot from the slot on a delayed penalty at 2:01.

Sudbury again made it a one-goal game 2:10 into the third period as Hudson Chitaroni beat Bourret with a shot from the left circle high short side.

Daniel Beaupre sealed the win with 1:21 to go in regulation time with an empty net goal.

Beaupre had a goal and an assist for the Thunderbirds in the victory while Silas Crawford assisted on a pair of goals.

Bourret stopped 32 shots.

McCharles and Chitaroni had a goal and an assist each for the Cubs in the loss.

Metivier made 28 saves in the loss.

Game four in the series is set for Tuesday night with game five slated for Thursday night in Sudbury.