Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos

On Friday, March 20th, the Soo Thunderbirds opened their 2026 NOJHL playoff run with a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory over the Timmins Rock in game one of their best-of-seven quarter-final series at the McIntyre Arena. The Thunderbirds, who finished fifth in the regular season, faced a tough test against the fourth-place Rock, who held a slight edge in the standings and a 3-1 record in the regular season series.

Soo struck first in the opening period. At 11:29, Deven Jones-McDonald scored his first of the playoffs to give the Thunderbirds a 1-0 lead, with assists from Aiden Atkinson and Vincent Bondy. The goal stood as the lone marker of the period, sending Soo into the intermission with the advantage.

The Rock responded late in the second period. At 18:58, Maxx Hamelin netted his first of the postseason, assisted by Ben Climenhaga and Lucas Lowe, tying the game 1-1 heading into the third.

The Thunderbirds regained the lead early in the final frame. At 2:31, Wyatt Groth scored his first playoff goal, with assists from Landon Hill and Brady Real, making it 2-1 Soo. The Thunderbirds extended their lead at 13:25 when Deven Jones-McDonald picked up his own rebound and buried his second goal of the game and playoffs, assisted by Aiden Atkinson and Jame Legler, giving Soo a 3-1 cushion.

Timmins refused to go away. On the powerplay at 16:24, Braedyn Cyr scored his first of the playoffs, assisted by Nolan Masson, cutting the lead to 3-2. Then, with just over a minute remaining in regulation, Kaeden McArthur tied the game 3-3 at 18:43, finishing a play set up by Cyr to force overtime.

In the extra frame, it was Drew Christian who played the hero. At 6:19 of the first overtime, Christian fired a shot from the left corner that deflected off a Rock defenseman and found its way past Timmins goaltender Frédéric Cousineau, sealing a 4-3 victory for the Thunderbirds. The goal was assisted by Adam Pszeniczny.

In goal, Nathan Maguire was outstanding in his first NOJHL postseason appearance, turning aside 39 of 42 shots to earn the win for Soo. At the other end, Cousineau made 32 saves on 36 shots in the loss.

With the victory, the Thunderbirds take a 1-0 series lead and will look to build on their momentum in game two on Saturday, March 21st in Timmins, with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m.