By Matt Stefano
Well hockey fans in Sault Ste. Marie, today is officially Thanksgiving Day on our side of the border and everybody pretty well has the day off!
And with all players, management, coaching staff and game night staff members all away from the rink today, we’ve decided to take a look at some of the numbers your Soo Thunderbirds have put up so far this season.
Here’s a look at numbers 1-13:
1. The Thunderbirds currently have the No. 1 penalty kill in the entire NOJHL, operating at 90.2%.
They also went perfect on their penalty kill in four out of their eight games played so far this season.
2. So far this season, two players on the Thunderbirds have had three-goal games.
Those two players are forwards Tyson Doucette and Samuel Lake.
3. In last Saturday’s 7-4 win in Elliot Lake, rookie defenceman Connor Healy set up three goals for his first career multi-point game.
Healy, who set up three goals last Saturday, has now given himself 5 points in his first 8 games played.
4. That’s how many points rookie defenceman Andrew Gibson recroded in the Thunderbirds 7-4 victory in Elliot Lake last Saturday.
So far this season, Gibson is the only player on the Soo Thunderbirds that has a four-point game.
5. Is the number of wins goaltender Noah Zeppa has so far this season.
Zeppa also sits in a three-way-tie with Jeremi Delaquis (Blind River Beavers) and former Thunderbirds netminder Alex Bugeja (Powassan Voodoos) for first among NOJHL goaltenders in wins.
6. That’s how many goals rookie forward Samuel Lake has put up so far this season.
Lake’s six tallies are currently the most among all Thunderbird players.
7. Is the number of points rookie defenceman Creo Solomon has put up in his first 8 games played this season.
Solomon’s seven points are currently the most among all NOJHL rookie blueliners.
8. Eight is the number Thunderbirds leading goal scorer Samuel Lake wears on the back of his jersey.
9. Rookie forward Kelsey Ouellet has put up 9 points in his first eight games played this season.
Ouellet’s 9 points are currently the most among all Thunderbird rookies.
10. Second-year forward Tyson Doucette currently leads the Thunderbirds in scoring with 10 points, including 5 goals and 5 assists.
Doucette, who has 10 points this season, is just one point away from tying his point total from one season ago.
11. Eleven is the number Thunderbirds rookie forward and Ottawa 67’s prospect Cooper Foster wears on the back of his jersey.
Foster, who wears No. 11, currently sits tied with Creo Solomon for fourth in team scoring with 7 points.
12. The Thunderbirds have scored a total of 12 power play goals so far this season, which is currently the second most out of any NOJHL team.
The only other team in the NOJHL that has more power play goals than the Soo Thunderbirds, is the Elliot Lake Red Wings, who have 14.
13. As we enter today’s holiday, the Thunderbirds are currently in a four-way-tie with the Timmins Rock, Powassan Voodoos and Blind River Beavers for first place in the NOJHL standings, with 13 points.
(Photo credit to Matt Stefano)
