T-Birds take on Red Wings tonight on Black Friday

By Matt Stefano

Hope you remember to get your all your Black Friday shopping done early today.

Because it’s game-night tonight at the John Rhodes!

Tonight, your Soo Thunderbirds will be in action at 7:00 p.m. as they will take on the Elliot Lake Red Wings at the John Rhodes Community Centre in Sault Ste. Marie.

The T-Birds are entering tonight’s game with a record of 15 wins, 9 losses, 2 shootout losses and 1 overtime loss, good for 33 points and 3rd place in the NOJHL’s West Division standings.

The Birds are also coming off a 4-2 victory over their International Bridge rivals, the Soo Eagles back on Wednesday night at the John Rhodes.

The Wings, meanwhile, are entering tonight’s game with a record of 11 wins, 11 losses and 1 shootout loss, good for only 23 points and 6th place in the NOJHL’s West Division standings.

Tonight will also be the first Black Friday game for the T-Birds in six years.

SIX YEARS AGO ON BLACK FRIDAY

The last time the T-Birds played a game on a Black Friday, was six years ago today, on November 25, 2016, when they defeated the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners by a score of 3-1 in front of 222 spectators at the Essar Centre (Now named the GFL Memorial Gardens) in downtown Sault Ste. Marie.

During that game, forward Nick Smith led the way offensively with a goal (empty net) and an assist while goaltender Brandon Gordon only had to make 15 saves for the victory.

The game that night also only lasted an hour and 45 minutes.

THIS SEASON AGAINST THE WINGS

So far this season, the T-Birds and the Red Wings have played against each other five times, with the T-Birds winning 3 times and the Red Wings winning twice.

The T-Birds have also outscored the Red Wings 14-13 overall.

During this regular season series against the Red Wings, T-Birds assistant captain Michael Chaffay has led the way offensively with 7 points, including 2 goals and 5 assists.

HISTORY OF BLACK FRIDAY GAMES FOR THE T-BIRDS

When it comes to playing on a Black Friday, the T-Birds have an overall record of 7 wins, 1 loss and 2 ties.

Below is a list of all the Black Friday games that the T-Birds were involved in over the years:

– Friday, November 26, 1999 (Won 10-2 against Espanola in Espanola)
– Friday, November 23, 2001 (Won 9-0 against Sturgeon Falls in the Soo)
– Friday, November 28, 2003 (Tied 3-3 against North Bay in the Soo)
– Friday, November 26, 2004 (Tied 5-5 against Manitoulin in the Soo)
– Friday, November 23, 2007 (Won 5-2 against Manitoulin in the Soo)
– Friday, November 28, 2008 (L 2-0 against Abitibi in the Soo)
– Friday, November 27, 2009 (Won 9-3 against Manitoulin in the Soo)
– Friday, November 26, 2010 (Won 5-4 against Manitoulin in Manitoulin)
– Friday, November 23, 2012 (Won 3-0 against Elliot Lake in Elliot Lake)
– Friday, November 25, 2016 (Won 3-1 vs Kirkland Lake in the Soo)

(Photo credit to Bob Davies)

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