By Matt Stefano
The Soo Thunderbirds hopes for winning the Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy are still alive!
On Friday night, the Soo Thunderbirds got goals from four different players as they doubled up the Hearst Lumberjacks by a score of 4-2 in game 4 of the NOJHL final at Claude Larose Arena in Hearst.
The Thunderbirds, who defeated the Lumberjacks 4-2 in game 4 of the NOJHL final on Friday night, also cut the best-of-seven series lead to three-games-to-one.
After skating scoreless through twenty minutes of play, the Thunderbirds got on the board first just 15 seconds into the second period, courtesy of Andrew Gibson’s 2nd goal of the playoffs from Kyle Trottier and Michael Chaffay.
The Lumberjacks would then get on the board just 5:42 later as forward Ryan Glazer would notch his 12th goal of the playoffs from Dylan Ford and Riley Klugerman, which tied the game up at one.
Glazer, who scored his 12th goal of the playoffs, also tied the Lumberjacks record for most goals by a Lumberjack player during a postseason, joining Max Johnson (2019).
The Thunderbirds would then retake the lead just 1:17 later, courtesy of Mason Chitaroni’s first goal of the playoffs on the power play from Kaden Dundas and Colby Arbour, which made the score 2-1 for the Thunderbirds heading into the third.
Chitaroni, who scored on the power play, also gave himself his first career power play tally.
The Soo would then get off to an early lead in the third period as captain Brock Santa Maria would notch his 2nd goal of the playoffs from Colby Arbour and Kaden Dundas, which put the Thunderbirds up 3-1.
With 4:23 left to go in the third period, it would then be Thunderbirds forward Dharan Cap getting his 2nd goal of the playoffs from Michael Chaffay and Kaden Dundas, which made the score 4-1 for the Thunderbirds.
Dundas, who recorded an assist on Cap’s goal, also gave himself his third assist of the evening.
Then, with just two seconds left to go in regulation time, it would then be Lumberjacks captain Dylan Ford getting his 2nd goal of the playoffs from Brayden Palfi, which cut the Thunderbirds lead to 4-2.
Lumberjacks goaltender Liam Oxner gave up 4 goals on 20 shots in the loss while Thunderbirds netminder Noah Metiver made 34 saves for the victory.
The Thunderbirds, who now trail the Lumberjacks three-games-to-one in the NOJHL final, will now be back on John Rhodes ice for game 5 of the best-of-seven series on Sunday night, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
