By Matt Stefano
After defeating the Timmins Rock by a score of 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday night in Day 1 of the NOJHL Showcase and improving their record to 4 wins and 5 losses, the Soo Thunderbirds were right back in action less than 24 hours later on Wednesday afternoon as they took on the Hearst Lumberjacks in Day 2 of the NOJHL Showcase at the Gerry McCrory Sports Complex in Sudbury.
The Thunderbirds, who entered Wednesday afternoon’s game with a record of 4 wins and 5 losses, were also looking to hit the .500 mark again for the third time this season.
Despite outshooting the Lumberjacks 34-31 on Wednesday afternoon, the Soo Thunderbirds record fell two games below .500 for the third time this season as they dropped a 5-3 decision to the Hearst Lumberjacks in Day 2 of the NOJHL Showcase in Sudbury.
Riley Klugerman and Emile Pichette led the way offensively for the Lumberjacks with a goal and an assist each while Mason Svarich (power play), Ethan Kitsch and Mathieu Comeau all had a goal each.
Pichette’s goal, was an empty net goal at the 19:22 mark of the third period.
Adam Shillinglaw, Tyler Patterson, Gregory Harley, Noah Janicki and Jett Mintenko also all got the scoresheet for the Lumberjacks with one assist each.
Forward Samuel Lake and defencemen Kaden Dundas (shorthanded) and Brodie McConnell-Barker had the goals for the T-Birds while Jackson Truchan, Ludovic Raymond, Austin Fellinger and Dharan Cap all set up a goal each.
Dundas’s goal, was a shorthanded tally at the 9:26 mark of the second period, which at that time tied the game up at two.
Dundas, who scored a shorthanded goal on Wednesday afternoon, also became the first T-Bird defenceman to score a shorthanded goal since Connor Toms did back on March 2, 2021.
T-Birds goaltender Kolton Bourret gave up 4 goals on 30 shots in the loss while Lumberjacks netminder Ethan Dinsdale made 31 saves for the victory.
With the loss, the T-Birds record has now fallen to 4-6 on the season while the Lumberjacks record has improved to 7-3.
The T-Birds have also concluded this year’s NOJHL Showcase with a win and a loss.
Next action for the T-Birds will be on Friday night at 7:30 p.m., when they visit Pullar Stadium in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan for a matchup against the Soo Eagles.
(Photo credit to Bob Davies)
