By Matt Stefano
After defeating the Soo Eagles by a score of 5-3 last Saturday at the John Rhodes Community Centre, the Soo Thunderbirds were in action for their final game of the 2018-2019 regular season on Wednesday night, as they made a visit to Blind River to take on the Beavers.
Entering Wednesday night’s game, the Thunderbirds also finished No. 8 in the final week of the CJHL’s Top 20 Weekly Rankings.
The Thunderbirds concluded their 2018-2019 regular season with a win on Wednesday night, as they defeated the Blind River Beavers by a score of 5-2 at the Blind River Community Centre.
After a scoreless opening period of play, the Thunderbirds ended up scoring three times in the second period, all thanks to one player.
Thunderbirds forward and NOJHL’s leading goal scorer Lucas Theriault recorded his third career natural hat trick in the second period, giving his club a 3-0 lead after two.
Avery Rebek’s eleventh goal of the season from Nolan Ford and Steven Bellini at the 2:43 mark of the third, gave the Soo a 4-0 lead.
Then, at the 3:19 mark of the third period, it would be Thunderbirds forward and NOJHL’s leading goal scorer Lucas Theriault getting his fourth goal of the game and fortieth goal of the season from Noah Boman and Steven Bellini, giving the Soo a 5-0 lead.
Theriault also became the first Thunderbird to score forty goals in a regular season since Gavin Burbach (48) did back in 2013-2014.
The Beavers then got a couple of late goals in the third period, courtesy of Jack McLeod at 17:13, followed by a power play tally by Andrew Warhoftig at 19:29.
Ryan Nielsen, Jordan Ritchie and Dante Cavaliere all had one assist each for the Beavers.
Noah Boman, Steven Bellini and Matthew Bazarin all finished the night with two assists each while Kaidan McDonald and Kobe Seguin set up one goal each.
Beavers netminder Garrett Boyonoski gave up five goals on thirty two shots before being replaced in net by Patrick Boivin, who then made six saves the rest of the way.
Thunderbirds goaltender William Anderson made twenty nine stops for the victory.
With the win, the Thunderbirds have now concluded their 2018-2019 regular season with 44 wins, 11 losses and 1 shootout loss, good for a total of 89 points.
Their 44 wins on the season is now the third most in franchise history, behind 2015-2016 (47) and 2013-2014 (48).
(Photo of Lucas Theriault credit to Rod Aubertin/www.ssmphotos.com)
