Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos
The first-place Soo Thunderbirds returned to the ice at the John Rhodes Centre on Sunday, October 18, looking to defend their position in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League standings. However, the fifth-place Hearst Lumberjacks delivered a strong offensive performance, scoring three times in the opening period before holding on for a 5-3 victory over the Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds entered the matchup with a 10-2-0-2 record, while the Lumberjacks arrived in Sault Ste. Marie sporting an 8-5 record and plenty of momentum after recording consecutive 7-4 road victories. Hearst defeated the Soo Eagles in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, on Friday, October 16, before travelling to Blind River to defeat the Beavers on Saturday, October 17.
The Lumberjacks carried that momentum into Sunday’s contest, scoring just 1:44 into the opening period when Colton Loiselle netted his second goal of the season unassisted to give Hearst an early 1-0 advantage.
The Thunderbirds responded at 10:58 with a power-play goal from Frankie Reda, his third of the season. Drew Christian and Sean Gresko collected the assists as Soo capitalized on the man advantage to even the score at 1-1.
Hearst regained the lead at 16:26 when Terence Levasseur scored his sixth goal of the season, with Benjamin Kuhl and Loiselle picking up the assists.
The Lumberjacks added another goal with just seven seconds remaining in the period. At 19:53, Kadin Bilajbegovic scored his fourth of the season off assists from Dylan Westmann and Grady Holden, sending Hearst into the first intermission with a 3-1 lead.
Lumberjacks Extend Their Advantage
Hearst wasted little time adding to its lead in the second period. Just 22 seconds after the opening faceoff, Luc Warner scored his ninth goal of the season on the power play, with Julien Trudel earning the assist to put the Lumberjacks ahead 4-1.
The Thunderbirds continued to generate opportunities and were rewarded at 10:06 when Jackson Mead scored his fifth goal of the season on the power play. Dreyon Boissoneau and goaltender Cam Boville recorded the assists as Soo trimmed the deficit to 4-2.
Despite the Thunderbirds’ efforts to build momentum, Hearst maintained its two-goal advantage heading into the third period.
Reda Brings Soo Within One
The Thunderbirds came out looking to mount a comeback in the final frame, and Reda delivered his second goal of the afternoon at 2:55 to make it a 4-3 game.
Reda’s fourth goal of the season was assisted by Shea Chornley and Makks Demidovich, bringing Soo within one and giving the home side an opportunity to find the equalizer.
With the Thunderbirds pressing for a tying goal late in the contest, Hearst defended its lead before putting the game away at 18:28. Dylan Westmann scored his eighth goal of the season into the empty net, with Cameron Menard earning the assist to secure the Lumberjacks’ 5-3 victory.
Goaltending and Shots
The Thunderbirds generated plenty of offensive pressure throughout the game, but Hearst goaltender Jack Helkie turned aside 43 of the 46 shots he faced to help secure the road win.
At the other end of the ice, Soo’s Cam Boville stopped 21 of the 25 shots directed his way.
The 43-save performance from Helkie proved significant as the Thunderbirds continued to push offensively, particularly during their third-period comeback attempt.
Thunderbirds Head to Elliot Lake
The Soo Thunderbirds will look to rebound on Friday, October 23, when they travel to Elliot Lake to take on the Vikings in NOJHL action. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:00 p.m.
The two teams previously met on September 19, when the Thunderbirds earned a 4-1 victory over Elliot Lake.
Soo will aim to return to the win column on the road as the team continues its 2026-27 NOJHL campaign.
