By Matt Stefano
The Soo Thunderbirds have announced today that six players from last year’s roster will be returning to the club for the upcoming season.
Those players are forwards Russell Oldham, Brock Santa Maria, Ty Zachary, Ethan Novello and Tyson Doucette and defenceman Kaden Dundas.
FIREBIRD PROSPECT REMAINS A THUNDERBIRD
Twenty-year-old forward and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native Russell Oldham will be returning to the Thunderbirds for his final season of junior hockey.
Oldham, who was drafted by the Flint Firebirds in the 2nd round (22nd overall) in the 2018 Ontario Hockey League Under-18 Priority Selection, signed with the Thunderbirds back on July 17, 2020.
Last season with the Thunderbirds, the 2001-birth-year forward scored once and set up 8 others in 20 games played.
Oldham, who wore No. 20 on the back of his jersey last season, just turned 20-years-old back on January 22.
At this point, Oldham will be the oldest player on the Thunderbirds 2021-2022 roster.
SANTA’S BEEN GOOD
Eighteen-year-old forward and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native Brock Santa Maria will be returning to the Thunderbirds for his third full season.
Last season with the Thunderbirds, the 2002-birth-year forward scored 6 goals and set up 16 others in 19 games played.
After the Christmas break, Santa Maria also went on a seven-game point scoring streak, which lasted from February 24 – March 14.
No other player on last year’s team had a point scoring streak that lasted as long as Santa Maria’s.
In 78 career games played with the Thunderbirds, Santa Maria has 15 goals and 40 points.
ZACK ATTACK IS BACK
Eighteen-year-old forward and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native Ty Zachary will be returning to the Thunderbirds for his second full season.
Last season with the Thunderbirds, the 2002-birth-year forward scored 4 times and set up 6 others in 21 games played.
He also recorded his first career multi-point game (1g 1a), back on February 28, in a 7-2 victory over the Blind River Beavers in Blind River.
In 28 career games played with the Thunderbirds, Zachary has 5 goals and 13 points.
NOVELLO SAYS YES
Eighteen-year-old forward and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native Ethan Novello will be returning to the Thunderbirds for his second season.
Last season with the Thunderbirds, the 2003-birth-year forward scored once and set up 2 others in 17 games played.
GET READY, GET DOUCETTE
Seventeen-year-old forward and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native Tyson Doucette will be returning to the Thunderbirds for his second season.
Last season with the Thunderbirds, the 2004-birth-year forward scored 5 goals, 6 assists and had only 4 penalty minutes in 20 games played.
He was also the recipient of the Michael Doan Memorial Award as the Thunderbirds Most Improved Player for the 2020-2021 season.
DUNDAS DEAL
Seventeen-year-old defenceman and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native Kaden Dundas will be returning to the Thunderbirds for his second season.
Last season with the Thunderbirds, the 2003-birth-year blueliner had 5 assists and just 6 penalty minutes in 16 games played.
Dundas, who also had one shorthanded assist last season, was just one of three rookie blueliners in the NOJHL to record a shorthanded assist in 2020-2021, joining Timmins Rock rookie blueliners Bode Dunford and Cole Williamson.
