T-Birds hit halfway point of their season tonight

By Matt Stefano

Tonight is game No. 29 on the Soo Thunderbirds regular season schedule.

Which means the club has officially hit the halfway point of their 2022-2023 season.

Tonight, in game No. 29, the Soo Thunderbirds will take on their cross-border rivals, the Soo Eagles at the John Rhodes Community Centre, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

The T-Birds, who are coming off a 5-4 victory over Elliot Lake Red Wings back on Black Friday at the John Rhodes, are entering tonight’s game with a record of 16 wins, 9 losses, 2 overtime losses and 1 shootout loss, good 35 points and are currently in third place in the NOJHL’s West Division standings.

The Eagles, meanwhile, are currently sitting in fifth place in the NOJHL’s West Division standings with a record of 12 wins, 10 losses and 2 overtime losses, good for 26 points.

So far this season, the T-Birds and the Eagles have met each other five times, with the T-Birds winning twice, and the Eagles winning three times, including once in a shootout.

IN THEIR LAST MEETING

The last time the T-Birds and the Eagles met, was back on Wednesday, November 23, when the T-Birds doubled up the Eagles by a score of 4-2 at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

During that game, forwards Justin Mauro and Dharan Cap had a goal and an assist each for the T-Birds while defenceman Brodie McConnell-Barker also had a multi-point game of his own, with a pair of assists.

T-Birds goaltender and Soo Greyhounds 2022 second round pick Landon Miller finished the night with 31 saves.

THE MAURO THE BETTER

In the T-Birds 5-4 victory over the Elliot Lake Red Wings back on Black Friday, T-Birds forward Justin Mauro scored the game-winner and set up another, good for his second straight multi-point game.

In 4 games played with the T-Birds this season, Mauro has found the back of the net 3 times and has set up 2 others.

MILLER IN THE DOGHOUSE

Tonight, the Soo Thunderbirds will be without goaltender Landon Miller, who was called up by the Ontario Hockey League’s Soo Greyhounds.

Miller will serve as a backup goalie for the Greyhounds tonight in their home game against the Saginaw Spirit, due to the injury of Greyhounds starting goaltender Charlie Schenkel.

So far this season with the Thunderbirds, Miller has a record of 9 wins, 2 losses, 1 overtime loss, 1 shootout loss and 1 shutout along with a .923 save percentage and a .241 goals against average.

B.M.B. GETS RECOGNIZED

Yesterday, it was announced that Soo Thunderbirds rookie defenceman and Soo Greyhounds 2022 second round pick Brodie McConnell-Barker has been named the NOJHL’s Rookie of the Month for November.

During the month of November, B.M.B. put up 10 points, including 2 goals and 8 assists in 8 games played.

The London, Ontario product is also entering tonight’s game fifth in team scoring with 20 points.

(Photo credit to Bob Davies)

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