NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
*************************
BLIND RIVER – A two-tally outburst, just 12 seconds apart in the third period propelled the Soo Thunderbirds to a 5-4 triumph over the Blind River Beavers in Game 2 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League quarterfinal, Saturday night at the Blind River Community Centre.
With the outcome, the best-of-seven series is now tied 1-1 and shifts to John Rhodes Community Centre in Sault Ste. Marie for Game 3 Sunday at 7 p.m.
Deven Jones-McDonald helped the Thunderbirds connect first, as while working his way around the net put a play out front that Callum McAuley collected at the top of the right circle and wired a shot past the Beavers’ Connor Dunham-Fox.
Coming right back, Blind River’s Wyatt Gibson found Jack Kruiderink in behind the Soo defence with a long stretch pass, that allowed him to go in alone and bury his chance over the glove of goalkeeper Noah Metivier.
Answering with a rapid response, Cooper Woron put the T-Birds back on top at 11:45 when he took a Harley Wardell feed and whistled it by Dunham-Fox while darting down the left side.
Taking a 3-1 lead into the first intermission, the Thunderbirds’ Cooper Labelle connected with just over three seconds remaining in the session.
A shot block by Caleb Walker in the neutral zone, a few shifts into the middle frame, allowed the Beavers’ Owen King to skate into Soo territory and wire in his second of the series.
The home side then equalized on a man advantage at 5:14 thanks to Keenan Conn tucking in the leftovers off a Gibson attempt.
Not done there, Blind River bagged their third of the period when spinning Ryder Hill along the side boards fired a cross-ice pass right to King who took it and roofed it on Metivier at 16:48.
Action in the final 20 minutes saw the Soo pull even when Jones-McDonald drove hard to the net and potted his first of the playoffs at 8:22.
Then, the T-Birds went ahead for good seconds after that as Aiden Atkinson countered in transition and went in alone on a breakaway where he made a nifty move and lifted a backhand upstairs.
The Beavers got their goalkeeper out for an additional skater late in regulation, but the Soo did their part defensively to preserve the road victory.
NOJHL quarter-final
Soo Thunderbirds vs. Blind River Beavers
Best-of-seven series tied 1-1
Game 1: Beavers 1 Thunderbirds 0
Game 2: Thunderbirds 5 Beavers 4
Game 3: Sunday, March 23 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 4: Tuesday, March 25 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 5: Thursday, March 27 @ Blind River 7 p.m. (Blind River Community Centre)
Game 6*: Saturday, March 29 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 7*: Tuesday, April 1 @ Blind River 7 p.m. (Blind River Community Centre)
*-if necessary
*************************