By Matt Stefano
The T-Birds are getting set to rock.
And by saying that, we mean they are getting set to play the Timmins Rock in the NOJHL final starting this Thursday.
After eliminating the Greater Sudbury Cubs in five games in the NOJHL West Division final series last week, the Soo Thunderbirds are now getting set for game 1 of the NOJHL final against the Timmins Rock, which will take place this Thursday night at McIntyre Arena in Timmins.
The Thunderbirds, who are the No. 3 seeded team in the NOJHL’s West Division, will take on the Rock, who are the No. 1 seeded team in the NOJHL’s East Division.
This will also be the Rock’s first ever appearance to the NOJHL final, in the team’s eight-year history.
“I think we are going to treat this series the same as our first two,” said Soo Thunderbirds defenceman Kaden Dundas, whose team eliminated the Blind River Beavers in five games in the West Division semifinal series, before eliminating the Greater Sudbury Cubs in five games in the West Division final. “Every game is crucial to win and we want to give the Rock no momentum in this series. Winning battles and staying poised will be a factor as well.”
The Rock, who have made it to the NOJHL final for the first time ever, finished the regular season in first place in the entire NOJHL with a record of 45 wins, 8 losses, 3 overtime losses and 2 shootout losses, good for 95 points.
But despite finishing the regular season in first place, the Rock did not have the most wins this season in the NOJHL.
The Rock, who had 45 wins during the regular season, finished one win less than the Greater Sudbury Cubs (The team the Thunderbirds eliminated in the NOJHL West Division final).
“We know that the Rock had a successful regular season and we have to respect that,” Dundas said. “But with our championship experience, we know what sacrifices you have to make in order to be successful, and we’re motivated and excited for the finals to get started this Thursday night.”
The Thunderbirds, who are entering this year’s NOJHL final as the defending NOJHL champions, have a total of nine players back from last year’s championship roster, including Youssef Chaouachi, Samuel Lake, Ethan Novello, Dharan Cap, Michael Chaffay, Kolby Fellinger, Kaden Dundas, Noah Zeppa and captain Brock Santa Maria.
“The nine players we have back from last year’s run, including myself, have been big for us all season and have also set a standard for all of our new players,” said Dundas, whose team won the Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy last year against the Hearst Lumberjacks in seven games, after battling back from being down 3-0 in the series. “We know what it takes to win and how easily a series can slip away if you take it for granted, so we will prepare the right way in order to be ready each night against Timmins.”
When the Soo Thunderbirds take on the Rock this Thursday night in game 1 of the NOJHL final in Timmins, Thursday night’s game will also be the first time ever that Soo Thunderbirds forward Daniel Beaupre will face his old team in a playoff series.
Beaupre, who was acquired by the Thunderbirds in a trade from the Timmins Rock back on September 19, has so far put up 9 points in 10 playoff games played.
“It’s definitely going to be a weird feeling playing against my old team in the finals,” Beaupre said. “If you told me when I was traded that I was going to be playing against them (The Rock) in the finals, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. But now looking ahead to the finals, I’m preparing by just trying to stay healthy and I want to keep feeling confident.”
In three meetings against the Rock during the regular season, the T-Birds defeated the Rock twice (3-2 in OT on October 4 and 4-2 on October 14) and have lost to them once (4-2 on March 19).
“The games between us and the Rock during the regular season were pretty close,” Beaupre said. “We know they have a good team and they play well within their systems, but we will watch film so we can get prepared for them.”
ROCKIN THE RECORD BOOK
So far during this playoff season, Timmins Rock defenceman Felix Cadieux-Fredette has recorded 10 points, including 2 goals and 8 assists in 9 playoff games played.
The 19-year-old has also set a pair of team records, including most assists and most points by a Rock defenceman during a playoff season.
COLE’S CORNER
After leading the T-Birds to a Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy title last season, Soo Thunderbirds head coach Cole Jarrett will now be looking for his second straight Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy here in 2023.
If Jarrett wins another Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy this season, the 40-year-old will become the second the head coach in T-Birds history to win back-to-back Copeland Cup McNamara Trophies, joining Jordan Smith (2015 & 2016).
MILLER TIME AGAIN?
If the Soo Thunderbirds end up winning another Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy this season, it will also be the second straight season that assistant coaches Anthony Miller and Joey Miller will get to hoist it.
The Miller cousins (Anthony & Joey), who are both in their second year together behind the bench, helped lead the T-Birds to a Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy title last season, when the T-Birds defeated the Hearst Lumberjacks in seven games in the 2022 NOJHL final.
And when you look back to their playing years with the T-Birds, it turns out that both Anthony and Joey knew how to win championships on the ice as well.
When Anthony Miller served as team captain of the Soo Thunderbirds back in his final season with them in 2014-2015, Miller helped lead the T-Birds to their third Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy title, as they defeated the Cochrane Crunch in five games in the 2015 NOJHL final.
Anthony, who played three seasons with the T-Birds from 2012-2015, also set the franchise record for most career playoff goals by a T-Bird player, with 24.
Joey, meanwhile, won back-to-back Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy titles with the T-Birds in 2015 & 2016.
After helping the T-Birds to their third Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy title in 2015, Joey then helped lead the T-Birds to their fourth Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy in 2016, when they swept the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners in four straight in the 2016 NOJHL final.
Joey, who played with the T-Birds from 2011-2016, also set the franchise record for most career playoff games played by a T-Bird player, with 56.
CAN REEBOK JUST DO IT AGAIN?
In his first three seasons as an assistant coach with the Soo Thunderbirds, Jeremy “Reebok” Rebek has been three-for-three when it comes to winning Copeland Cup McNamara Trophies.
In his first two seasons as an assistant coach with the T-Birds from 2014-2016, Reebok helped lead the T-Birds to back-to-back Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy titles, where he worked alongside former T-Birds head coach Jordan Smith (Now with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds).
Following his first two seasons with the T-Birds, Reebok then went on to become head coach of the Soo Indians Under 18-AAA club for the 2016-2017 season.
Then, after returning back to the T-Birds last season to take over his same role (Assistant coach), Reebok then helped lead the T-Birds to another Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy title, thanks to a seven-game series win over the Hearst Lumberjacks in the 2022 NOJHL final.
So with already three Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy rings in his first three seasons with the T-Birds, can Reebok now get a fourth one here in 2023?
HEADS UP FOR HENDO
Whether he’s an assistant coach or a general manager, Jamie “Hendo” Henderson knows what it’s like to win championships with this Soo Thunderbirds hockey club.
Hendo, who started his time with the T-Birds as an assistant coach in 2010, helped lead the T-Birds to their second Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy title in just his second season with them back in 2011-2012.
In 2012, Hendo and the T-Birds eliminated the North bay Trappers in five games in the 2012 NOJHL final.
Following his first two seasons with the T-Birds, Hendo then went on to serve as an assistant coach with the St. Mary’s Knights from 2012-2014.
After serving as an assistant coach with the St. Mary’s Knights from 2012-2014, Hendo then ended up coming back to the T-Birds to serve as the club’s assistant general manager in 2014-2015, before being promoted to head general manager in 2015-2016.
During the 2014-2015 & 2015-2016 seasons in his new roles with the T-Birds, Hendo then ended up getting another two championship rings by leading the T-Birds to another two Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy titles.
After being away from the T-Birds from 2016-2021 while working with other teams, Hendo then returned to the T-Birds last season in 2021-2022, to take on the role of both assistant coach and general manager.
In his first season back with the T-Birds last year, Hendo helped lead the T-Birds to their fifth Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy title, thanks to their seven-game series win against the Hearst Lumberjacks in the 2022 NOJHL final.
So in five seasons with the T-Birds so far, Hendo has won a total of four Copeland Cup McNamara Trophies, and will now be looking for his fifth one here in 2023.
THE KMENT WALL
Last September, the Soo Thunderbirds also added more Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy experience to their staff, as they hired former Soo Thunderbirds goaltender Brian Kment as the club’s new goaltender coach.
Kment, who is in his first season as T-Birds goaltender coach, played in net with the T-Birds from 2012-2015, and helped the T-Birds win a Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy in 2015.
In 2015, Kment also played on the same team as current Soo Thunderbirds assistant coaches Anthony & Joey Miller.
CAN CLOOCH CLINCH IT AGAIN?
This season, 19-year-old assistant general manager Cole “Clooch” Cloutier will be looking to win his second straight Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy with the T-Birds.
In his first season as assistant general manager with the T-Birds last season, Clooch helped build the T-Birds to their fifth Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy in franchise history.
(Photo of Soo Thunderbirds forward Daniel Beaupre credit to Bob Davies)