By Matt Stefano
After eliminating the Blind River Beavers four-games-to-one in the NOJHL West Division semifinal series last week, the Soo Thunderbirds are now getting set for round two of playoff action tonight in Greater Sudbury, as they will take on the Greater Sudbury Cubs in game 1 of the NOJHL West Division final, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
The T-Birds, who are coming off a four-games-to-one NOJHL West Division semifinal series win over the Blind River Beavers, will take on a Cubs team, who is coming off a four-games-to-one NOJHL West Division semifinal series win against the Espanola Paper Kings.
This will also be the first time ever that the T-Birds and the Cubs will face each other in a NOJHL playoff series.
HEAD TO HEAD DURING THE REGULAR SEASON
In four meetings against the Cubs during the regular season, the T-Birds have only beaten the Cubs once and have lost to them three times, including once in a shootout.
The T-Birds were also outscored by the Cubs during the regular season 15-12 overall.
During the regular season series against the Cubs, rookie forward Jackson Truchan led the way offensively for the T-Birds with 5 points, including 2 goals and 3 assists.
The T-Birds only win against the Cubs during the regular season, was in their final meeting of the regular season back on Thursday, February 16, when they defeated the Cubs by a score of 6-2 at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
GREAT FOR GREATER SUDBURY
This season, the Greater Sudbury Cubs finished in second place in the NOJHL standings with a record of 46 wins, 10 losses and 2 overtime losses, good for 94 points.
The Cubs, who finished the regular season with 46 wins, also became just the third team in NOJHL history to record 46 wins during a regular season, joining the Powassan Voodoos (46 wins in 2016-2017) and the Soo Thunderbirds (47 wins in 2015-2016 and 48 wins in 2013-2014).
THE T-BIRDS ARE COVERED WITH INSURANCE
So far during this postseason, Soo Thunderbirds forward Dharan Cap has scored a total of three insurance goals of a game, and is currently leading all NOJHL players in insurance goals this postseason.
Cap’s first insurance goal this postseason, came in the Thunderbirds game 1 win over the Blind River Beavers in the NOJHL West Division semifinal, when the T-Birds defeated the Beavers 6-3 at the Blind River Community Centre in Blind River.
Cap then scored his second insurance goal of the postseason in the T-Birds 4-1 win against the Beavers in game 4, before scoring his third insurance goal of the postseason in the T-Birds 6-2 win against the Beavers in game 5.
NOTHING TO SOB ABOUT
During the regular season, the Greater Sudbury Cubs were led in scoring by second-year forward Pierson Sobush, who had 44 goals and 70 points in 57 regular season games.
His 44 goals during the regular season were the second most in the NOJHL, behind Timmins Rock forward Brady Harroun, who had 50.
During the regular season, Sobush also led the Cubs in power play goals with 12, shorthanded goals with 5, insurance goals of a game with 10 and opening goals of a game with 8.
JACKSON IN FIVE
In five games played so far during the playoffs, Soo Thunderbirds rookie forward Jackson Truchan has recorded a total of 12 points, including 4 goals and 8 assists.
Despite being held off the scoresheet in the Thunderbirds game 5 victory over the Blind River Beavers, Truchan is still entering tonight’s game as the NOJHL’s top scorer this postseason.
Truchan, who is from from Farmington Hills, Michigan, is also six points away from tying the franchise record for most points by an American-born player in a playoff season.
That record is currently held by Justin Scott, who had 18 back in 2010.
SHOOTING ON TIVES
When the Soo Thunderbirds begin their West Division final series tonight in Greater Sudbury, the T-Birds will also be taking on their former goaltender Noah Metiver, who now plays in net for the Greater Sudbury Cubs.
So far during this postseason, Metivier has recorded 4 wins and 1 loss and has a posted a .244 goals against average along with a .929 save percentage.
As a member of the Thunderbirds last season, Metivier helped lead the Thunderbirds to a Copeland Cup McNamara Trophy title and was also named the 2022 NOJHL Playoff MVP.
So far this season, the T-Birds have played against Metiver twice, and have beaten him once (6-2 on February 16) and have lost to him once in a shootout (3-2 in a shootout on January 28).
(Photo credit to Bob Davies)
