Player Profiles

#7 MASON CHITARONI

Position: Defense
Height : 5' 11"
Weight: 170lbs
Shoots: Left
Date of Birth: 2004-10-02
Hometown: Marathon, ON, Canada

Came over to the Thunderbirds in a trade with the OJHL’s Cobourg Cougars back on November 14 … Had 1 goal and 4 assists in 12 games played with the Cougars this season … Played the 2020-2021 season with the NOJHL’s Blind River Beavers … Made his NOJHL debut with the Blind River Beavers as an affiliate player back on January 5, 2020 against Rayside Balfour … Recorded his first NOJHL point (assist) and multi-point game (2 assists) against the Soo Thunderbirds back on February 26, 2021 … Drafted by the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights in the 5th round (99th overall) back in 2020 … Son of former Sudbury Wolves captain Terry Chitaroni

#11 COOPER FOSTER

Position: Forward
Height : 5' 11"
Weight: 180lbs
Shoots: Left
Date of Birth: 2005-06-04
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada

Signed with the Thunderbirds back on September 21, 2021 … Spent the last season with the Great North Under-18 Hockey league’s Soo Jr. Greyhounds … Drafted by the Ottawa 67’s in the 2nd round (32nd overall) during the 2021 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection … Signed with the Ottawa 67’s back on July 8, 2021 … Suited up for 2 exhibition games with the 67’s during the 2021 preseason, where he had 0 points and 2 shots on goal

#16 KADEN DUNDAS

Position: Defense
Height : 5' 11"
Weight: 175lbs
Shoots: Right
Date of Birth: 2003-11-11
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada

Currently in his second season with the Thunderbirds … Had 5 assists in 16 games played with the Thunderbirds last season … Made his NOJHL debut with the Thunderbirds against the Blind River Beavers back on November 20, 2020 … Recorded his first NOJHL point (assist) back on December 15, 2020 against the Espanola Express … Helped the Thunderbirds win the COVID Cup in a seven-game cohort series against the Blind River Beavers back in March of 2021 … Attended Soo Greyhounds 2021 Training Camp as a free agent

#17 ZANE BURLEIGH

Position: Defense
Height : 6' 02"
Weight: 210lbs
Shoots: Left
Date of Birth: 2002-12-10
Hometown: London, ON, Canada

Came over to the Thunderbirds in a trade with the CCHL’s Renfrew Wolves back on September 23 … Had 1 assist in 4 exhibition games with the Renfrew Wolves during the 2021 preseason … Spent the 2020-2021 season with the GOJHL’s Pelham Panthers … Played the 2019-2020 season with the North Central Predators Under-18 club, where he had 2 goals and 10 assists in 36 regular season games

#20 RUSSELL OLDHAM

Position: Forward
Height : 6' 00"
Weight: 195lbs
Shoots: Right
Date of Birth: 2001-01-22
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada

Currently in his second and final season with the Thunderbirds … Had 1 goal and 8 assists in 20 games with the Thunderbirds last season … Made his debut with the Thunderbirds back on November 20, 2020 against the Blind River Beavers … Recorded his first point (assist) as a Thunderbird against the Blind River Beavers back on November 21, 2020 … Scored his first goal as a Thunderbird back on March 25, 2021 against the Blind River Beavers … Helped the Thunderbirds win the COVID Cup in a seven-game cohort series against the Blind River Beavers back in March of 2021 … Drafted by the Flint Firebirds in the 2nd round (22nd overall) in the 2018 Ontario Hockey League Under-18 Priority Selection

#21 ETHAN NOVELLO

Position: Forward
Height : 6' 01"
Weight: 185lbs
Shoots: Right
Date of Birth: 2003-04-28
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada

Currently in his second season with the Thunderbirds … Had 1 goal and 2 assists in 17 games with the Thunderbirds last season … Made his NOJHL debut with the Thunderbirds back on November 20, 2020 against the Blind River Beavers … Scored his first NOJHL goal against the Blind River Beavers back on November 21, 2020 … Helped the Thunderbirds win the COVID Cup in a seven-game cohort series against the Blind River Beavers back in March of 2021 … Cousin of former Soo Thunderbirds goaltender Frank Novello … Cousin of Soo Thunderbirds rookie forward Kenny Belanger Jr.

#25 COLE DELAROSBIL

Position: Forward
Height : 6' 01"
Weight: 190lbs
Shoots: Left
Date of Birth: 2001-03-31
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada

Came over to the Thunderbirds in a trade from the Espanola Express back on June 18, 2021 … Played the past two seasons with the Espanola Express from 2019-2021 … Had 5 goals and 2 assists in 11 games played with the Espanola Express during the 2020-2021 season … Scored 6 times and set up 3 others in 27 games with the Espsnola Express during the 2019-2020 regular season … Made his NOJHL debut with the Espanola Express back on September 14, 2020 against the French River Rapids … Scored his first NOJHL goal against the Blind River Beavers back on September 22, 2020 … Made his NOJHL playoff debut with the Espanola Express back on March 4, 2020

#27 MICHAEL CHAFFAY

Position: Forward
Height : 5' 09"
Weight: 200lbs
Shoots: Right
Date of Birth: 2002-06-09
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada

Currently in his second full season with the Thunderbirds … Had 6 goals and 10 assists in 21 games with the Thunderbirds last season … Led all NOJHL rookies in opening goals of a game last season with 3 … Helped the Thunderbirds win the COVID Cup in a seven-game cohort series against the Blind River Beavers back in March of 2021 … Suited up as an affiliate player with the Thunderbirds during the 2018-2019 and the 2019-2020 seasons … Made his NOJHL debut with the Thunderbirds back on December 9, 2018 against the Rayside Balfour Canadians … Recorded his first NOJHL point (assist) against the Espanola Express back on February 27, 2019 … Scored his first NOJHL goal back on January 10, 2020 against the Elliot Lakes Wildcats

#30 NOAH METIVIER

Position: Goalie
Height : 5' 11"
Weight: 185lbs
Catches: Left
Date of Birth: 2004-01-28
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada

Signed with the Thunderbirds back on June 21, 2021 … Played the past two seasons with the Great North Under-18 Hockey League’s Soo Jr. Greyhounds … Had a 2.94 goals against average and 1 shutout in 27 regular season games with the Soo Jr. Greyhounds during the 2019-2020 season … Helped the Soo Jr. Greyhounds win the regular season title in 2020

#35 NOAH ZEPPA

Position: Goalie
Height : 5' 10"
Weight: 162lbs
Catches: Left
Date of Birth: 2002-12-02
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada

Signed with the Thunderbirds as a free agent back on June 24, 2021 … Spent the last season with the CCHL’s Renfrew Wolves … Played with the GOJHL’s Chatham Maroons and the NOJHL’s Hearst Lumberjacks during the 2019-2020 season … Had 1 win, 1 loss and 1 overtime loss with the Chatham Maroons during 2019-2020 while posting a 3.29 goals against average and a .897 save percentage … Made his NOJHL debut with the Hearst Lumberjacks back on December 10, 2019 against the Cochrane Crunch … Recorded his first career NOJHL win and shutout against the Cochrane Crunch back on December 10, 2019 … Had 1 win, 1 loss and 1 overtime loss in 5 games played with the Hearst Lumberjacks in 2019-2020 along with posting 3.29 goals against average and a .876 save percentage … Suited up as an affiliate backup goaltender with the Soo Thunderbirds during the 2018-2019 regular season and during the 2019 NOJHL final … Suited up as an emergency backup goaltender with the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs back on October 20, 2018 in a game against the Soo Greyhounds at the GFL Memorial Gardens … Drafted by the Soo Greyhounds in the 2nd round (37th overall) in the 2019 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection

#61 ANDREW GIBSON

Position: Defense
Height : 6' 02"
Weight: 185lbs
Shoots: Right
Date of Birth: 2005-02-13
Hometown: Windsor, ON, Canada

Signed with the Thunderbirds back on July 14, 2021 … Spent the 2020-2021 season with the Windsor Zone Jr. Spitfires Under-16 hockey club … Played the 2019-2020 season with the Windsor Zone Jr. Spitfires Under-15 hockey club, where he notched 11 goals and 17 assists in 32 regular season games … Helped the Windsor Zone Jr. Spitfires Under-15 hockey club win the Alliance Under-15 championship in 2020 … Drafted in the 4th round (67th overall) by the Soo Greyhounds in the 2020 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection

#63 KENNY BELANGER JR.

Position: Forward
Height : 6' 01"
Weight: 171lbs
Shoots: Right
Date of Birth: 2004-00-00
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada

Signed with the Thunderbirds back on September 13, 2021 … Spent the 2019-2020 season with the Toronto Marlboros Under-16 hockey club, where he put up 1 goal, 4 assists and just 2 penalty minutes in 27 regular season games .. Drafted by the Mississauga Steelheads in the 2nd round (22nd overall) in the 2021 OHL Under-18 Priority Selection … Son of former NHLer Ken Belanger Sr. … Cousin of Soo Thunderbirds second-year forward Ethan Novello

#77 BROCK SANTA MARIA

Position: Forward
Height : 6' 01"
Weight: 175lbs
Shoots: Right
Date of Birth: 2002-09-27
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada

Currently in his third full season with the Thunderbirds … Had 6 goals and 10 assists in 19 games with the Thunderbirds last season … Played as an affiliate player with the Thunderbirds during the 2018-2019 season … Helped the Thunderbirds win the COVID Cup in a seven-game cohort series against the Blind River Beavers back in March of 2021 … Made his NOJHL debut with the Thunderbirds against the Espanola Express back on September 21, 2018 … Scored his first NOJHL goal and assist back on January 27, 2019 against the Elliot Lake Wildcats … Made his NOJHL playoff debut with the Thunderbirds against the Rayside Balfour Canadians back on March 31, 2019 … Attended Soo Greyhounds 2019 Training Camp as a free agent