By Matt Stefano
In the 2022-2023 regular season, the Blind River Beavers set a new franchise record for most wins in a regular season with 42.
They also finished higher than the Soo Thunderbirds did in the NOJHL West Division standings by 11 points.
But as we all know, the playoffs are a whole new season!
Despite finishing the regular season with a franchise-best 42 wins, the Blind River Beavers have no wins so far in the playoffs, and are also one loss away from being eliminated by the Soo Thunderbirds in the NOJHL West Division semifinal series.
The Thunderbirds, who can eliminate the Beavers on home ice tonight at the John Rhodes, won the first two games of the series in Blind River by 6-3 and 5-4 scores, before winning game 3 on home ice by a score of 4-1.
If the Thunderbirds sweep the Beavers tonight on home ice, it will also be the second straight year that the Thunderbirds would sweep the Beavers in the NOJHL West Division semifinal series.
7 HAS 11
After recording three points in Monday night’s game 3 win against the Beavers, Soo Thunderbirds forward No. 7 Jackson Truchan is now entering tonight’s game with 11 points this postseason.
Truchan, who has 11 points this postseason, is also leading all NOJHL players in postseason scoring.
MISSING MINNS
For the second straight game, the Blind River Beavers will be without forward Caleb Minns, who will be serving game two of his two-game suspension.
Minns, who was the Beavers leading scorer during the regular season, was assessed a five-minute penalty plus a game misconduct for head contact in the Thunderbirds 5-4 victory over the Beavers in game 2 last Saturday night in Blind River.
In two games played this postseason, Minns has recorded 3 points, including 2 goals and 1 assist.
All three of his points came in the Beavers 6-3 loss to the Thunderbirds last Thursday night in game 1.
(Photo credit to Bob Davies)
