By Matt Stefano
How sweep it is!
After defeating the Greater Sudbury Cubs by a score of 5-4 back on Sunday afternoon in the Soo, the Soo Thunderbirds went into Sudbury on Thursday night and took game two of the home and home series against the Cubs, as they defeated them by a score of 4-2 at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
The win also moved the Thunderbirds into a tie with the Cubs for first place in the NOJHL’s West Division, with 6 points.
“It’s early and every game is important, so it’s great to get the result and keep pace with the Cubs,” said Soo Thunderbirds head coach Cole Jarrett. “We played a really strong 40 minutes tonight and fortunately it was good enough for the win.”
The Thunderbirds, who led 2-1 after the first and 4-2 after the second, also got a 29-save performance from goaltender Noah Zeppa.
“We got away from our game a bit on the second, but I was impressed and proud of how the boys rallied around Zeppa in the third and got the win,” Jarrett said.
On Thursday night, the Thunderbirds picked up goals from four different players, including Cooper Foster, Brock Santa Maria, Michael Chaffay and Tyson Doucette.
Cooper Foster opened the scoring with his first NOJHL tally at the 7:49 mark of the first period, which at that time put the Thunderbirds up 1-0.
“Cooper is definitely a generational talent,” said Soo Thunderbirds goaltender Noah Zeppa. “He acts like a true professional everyday at the rink and I’m very excited to see what his future holds.”
Lincoln Moore, who was called up by the Thunderbirds from the Soo Jr. Greyhounds, picked up the only assist on Foster’s goal.
“Lincoln was solid for us tonight,” Zeppa said. “He’s a big body that always puts himself in the right area to make plays and he’s another young player that has an amazing future in hockey.”
Samuel Lake, Kolby Fellinger and Creo Solomon also all got on the scoresheet for the Thunderbirds with one assist each.
Fellinger and Solomon, who recoded an assist each on Thursday night, also picked up their first career points.
Kyler Campbell (power play) and Matthieu Morin (shorthanded) had the goals for the Cubs while Quinn Collins, Seth Coulter and Pinseshish Whiteduck all set up a goal each.
Cubs netminder Jake Marois gave up 4 goals on 28 shots in the loss.
The Thunderbirds, who picked up a road win against the Cubs on Thursday night in Sudbury, have also handed the Cubs their first ever loss on home ice.
The Soo will now return to John Rhodes ice on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m., when they take on the Espsnola Express.
(Photo of Thunderbirds forward Brock Santa Maria credit to Bob Davies)
