By Matt Stefano
One-hundred.
That’s how many games it will be for tonight for Soo Thunderbird defenceman Kaden Dundas.
When the Soo Thunderbirds hit the ice tonight at 7:00 p.m. for their home game against the Elliot Lake Red Wings at the John Rhodes, tonight’s game will mark the 100th career NOJHL game for Soo Thunderbird defenceman Kaden Dundas.
Dundas, who will suit up for his 100th career game tonight, will also become the fourth player on the current Soo Thunderbirds roster to play in 100 career NOJHL games, joining Justin Mauro (Acquired in a trade back on November 17), Michael Chaffay and captain Brock Santa Maria.
“It’s always great to see a local player reach a milestone like this,” said Soo Thunderbirds assistant coach and general manager Jamie Henderson. “Kaden was a big part of our championship run last season and especially lately as we have turned things around this season. His game has real maturity to it. He will be counted on heavily here down the stretch and we’re excited to see him continue to take his game to new heights.”
In 99 career NOJHL games played so far (All with his hometown Soo Thunderbirds), Dundas has recorded 11 goals, 48 points and 54 penalty minutes.
Three of his eleven goals have also come against the Elliot Lake Red Wings.
“It doesn’t feel real that I will be hitting the century mark tonight,” Dundas said. “I have learned so much over the last three years on and off the ice, and I have cherished what I’ve learned each and every day.”
After playing two seasons of high school hockey with the Korah Colts from 2018-2020, Dundas then ended up signing with his hometown Soo Thunderbirds back on September 18, 2020.
Prior to joining the Thunderbirds, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario product also wore the ‘C’ for the Korah Colts in his final season of high-school hockey in 2019-2020.
“The day I signed with the Thunderbirds, I knew that all of my hard work and dedication throughout my final year of high-school hockey paid off,” Dundas said. “But after all the excitement of signing, I knew the work was just getting started as I had a lot of growing and maturing to do as a player.”
In his first season with the Thunderbirds in 2020-2021, in what was a shortened season due to COVID-19, Dundas recorded 0 goals and 5 assists in 16 games played.
That season, the 2003-birth-year defenceman also helped the Thunderbirds win the COVID Cup in a seven-game series against the Blind River Beavers.
“Despite having a shortened season during my rookie year, I still remember how close of a team we were that year, and I still remember how much I learned from our coaching staff and the veterans on our team,” said Dundas, who played his first season under former Soo Thunderbirds head coach Denny Lambert.
Following his first season with the Thunderbirds, Dundas then ended up attending the Soo Greyhounds 2021 Training Camp as a free agent.
“When I attended Soo Greyhounds Training Camp in 2021, the Soo Greyhounds players and coaching staff all welcomed me in open arms and they pushed me to get better every day,” Dundas said. “Getting invited to the Greyhounds Training Camp was a great opportunity to see how I compare to some really talented players. I also had a really good time at their camp and I’ve learned a lot of good practice habits that can contribute to my in-game performance.”
In his second season with the Thunderbirds last season (2021-2022), Dundas finished second among all Thunderbird blueliners in scoring with 5 goals and 23 points in 44 games played.
Last season, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native also helped the Thunderbirds win their fifth Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy in franchise history, thanks to a 4-games-to-3 series win over the Hearst Lumberjacks in the 2022 NOJHL final.
“Last season our team had something very special that many teams never get to have, and it showed in our performance during the NOJHL final as we fought back from being down three-games-none, before coming all the way back to win the cup in game 7,” Dundas said. “This season we have a very talented group and as we continue to build towards the playoffs, I believe we have a good chance to go back to the national championship.”
Dundas, who is now in his third season with the Soo Thunderbirds, is entering tonight’s game with 6 goals and 20 points in 39 games played.
He is also currently tied with Brodie McConnell-Barker for first among all Thunderbird blueliners in goals this season.
“When I suit up for my 100th career game tonight, I will be looking to help my team win by getting involved in the offence along with having good communication as we work on some of our plays,” Dundas said.
Dundas and the Thunderbirds are entering tonight’s game sitting in second place in the NOJHL’s West Division standings with 57 points while the Red Wings are entering tonight’s game sitting in last place in the West with 29 points.
In eight meetings against the Red Wings so far this season, the Thunderbirds have defeated them six times while only losing to them twice.
T-BIRDS RECALL ROACH
As the Soo Thunderbirds get set to hit the ice tonight for their home game against the Elliot Lake Red Wings, the Birds have announced today that they have recalled defenceman Evan Roach from the Great North Under-18 Hockey League’s Soo Jr. Greyhounds.
Roach, who is a 2022 15th round pick of the Ontario Hockey League’s Soo Greyhounds, will suit up tonight for his second NOJHL game with the Soo Thunderbirds.
The 2006-birth-year defenceman made his debut with the Soo Thunderbirds in a home game against the Elliot Lake Red Wings back on November 25, which was a 5-4 victory.
(Photo of Soo Thunderbirds defenceman Kaden Dundas credit to Bob Davies)
