The fifth-place Soo Thunderbirds (29-14-2) travelled east on Thursday, March 5th to face the first-place Greater Sudbury Cubs (37-7-2) in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) action. The matchup featured two teams looking to rebound from recent contests, with the Thunderbirds coming off a dominant 11-3 win over the Blind River Beavers on March 1st, while the Cubs were defeated by the Timmins Rock in Timmins on the same night.
The game also marked the final regular-season meeting between the two clubs. Sudbury entered the contest holding a 2-1-1 record against the Soo this season, including a 5-2 victory back on October 5th, 2025.
The opening period saw both teams exchange chances, but it was the Thunderbirds who struck first late in the frame.
At 16:09, Wyatt Groth opened the scoring with his 12th goal of the season, finishing off an unassisted effort to give the Soo a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission.
The Cubs responded in the middle frame at 9:30, Grant Booth tied the game 1-1 after picking up his own rebound and burying his third goal of the season. Caden Dubreuil was credited with the assist on the play.
Sudbury took its first lead early in the third.
At 5:00, Mason Walker scored his 28th goal of the season on an unassisted play, giving the Cubs a 2-1 advantage.
The Thunderbirds answered on the power play at 7:09 during their second man advantage of the game. Adam Pszeniczny netted his 18th goal of the season to tie the game 2-2, with assists going to Gavin Killoran and Landon Hill.
Sudbury regained the lead at 16:37 on their third power-play opportunity of the night. Noah Kohan scored his 19th goal of the season with assists from Daks Klinkhammer and Spencer Horgan, making it 3-2 Cubs.
The Thunderbirds refused to go away. With time winding down in regulation, the Soo found the equalizer. At 18:41, Aiden Atkinson scored his 22nd goal of the season to tie the game 3-3. James Legler and Declan Gallivan picked up the assists on the late goal.
Thunderbirds netminder Nathan Maguire was solid between the pipes, stopping 36 of 39 shots to earn his first tie of the season. At the other end, Iain Wintle made 30 saves on 33 shots for the Cubs, also recording his second tie of the season.
The Thunderbirds will return home to Sault Ste. Marie on Friday, March 6th to host the visiting French River Rapids at 7:00 p.m meanwhile, the Greater Sudbury Cubs will travel to Powassan on March 6th to take on the Voodoos, also set for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop.
