Game Preview: Thunderbirds meet Cubs for the second straight game

By Matt Stefano

Different rink, same two teams!

Friday night hockey takes place tonight at the John Rhodes Community Centre as your Soo Thunderbirds will have their second straight meeting against the Greater Sudbury Cubs, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The Thunderbirds are entering tonight’s game with a record of 9 wins, 2 losses and 1 shootout loss, good for 19 points and are currently in first place in the NOJHL’s West Division standings.

The Soo also moved up to No. 18 in the CJHL Top 20 Weekly Rankings this week after receiving honourable mention one week ago.

The Cubs, meanwhile, are entering tonight’s game with a record of 8 wins and 9 losses, good for 16 points and are currently in third place in the NOJHL’s West Division standings.

The Thunderbirds, who are entering tonight’s game as the top team in the West, are also coming off a 1-0 victory over the Cubs back on Sunday night in Sudbury.

HEAD TO HEAD

In three meetings against the Cubs this season, the Thunderbirds have won all three times and have outscored the Cubs 10-6 overall.

BROCK AND ROLL

So far this season, Thunderbirds captain Brock Santa Maria has been on a roll against the Greater Sudbury Cubs.

Santa Maria has so far led the way offensively for the Thunderbirds against the Cubs this season with 5 points, including 2 goals 3 assists.

The 19-year-old also scored the only goal for the Thunderbirds in their 1-0 win over the Cubs back on Sunday night in Sudbury.

NOAH GOALS ALLOWED

So far this season, the Thunderbirds have been getting some great goaltending from both Noah Zeppa and Noah Metivier.

And back on Sunday, the strong goaltending continued!

Both Noahs (Zeppa & Metivier) ended up sharing the shutout in Sunday night’s 1-0 win over Greater Sudbury at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.

Zeppa, who started the game in net for the Thunderbirds back on Sunday night, stopped all 11 shots fired his way, before leaving the game after the second period.

Metiver, who then replaced Zeppa in net after the second period, then ended up making 9 saves the rest of the way to help lead the Thunderbirds to a shutout win.

CARTER CAN’T STAY OUT

This season, Greater Sudbury Cubs defenceman Carter Geoffroy has been having trouble staying out of the penalty box.

The 19-year-old blueliner currently leads all NOJHL defencemen in penalty minutes with 40.

HE’S GOT THE POWER

When it comes to playing on the power play, Thunderbirds forward Tyson Doucette has been lighting the lamp more than any other player in the league.

Doucette currently leads all NOJHL players in power play goals with 6.

WE’VE GOT THE BIRDS THAT KILL

This season, our very own Soo Thunderbirds have been giving their fans alot to be thankful for when it comes to the PK.

The Thunderbirds are entering tonight’s game with the best penalty kill in the entire NOJHL, operating at 89.8%.

The Soo also went a perfect 6 for 6 on their penalty kill back in Sunday night’s 1-0 win in Sudbury.

(Photo of Thunderbirds forward Michael Chaffay credit to Matt Stefano)

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