Heading into their fourth game in six days, the Soo Thunderbirds hosted the Blind River Beavers at the John Rhodes Centre in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario looking for their fourth straight win against the Beavers on Tuesday, March 2nd in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest.
At 14:50 of the opening period from the top of the right faceoff circle, Mike Chaffay sinks his fifth of the season unassisted when Sault Ste Marie native lifts the Thunderbirds first goal of the game over a sprawling Beaver goaltender Gavin Disano. On a Beaver powerplay and all alone in front of Soo netminder Scott Young’s net, newly acquired Blind River Thomas Michaud scores his NOJHL goal on a backhand over Young’s catcher to even the game 1 – 1 for the visitors. Jacob Kelly and Justin Mauro notched the assists on Michaud’s goal with 44 seconds remaining in the opening period. Shorthanded, forward Conor Toms sinks his fourth of the season finding the back of Disano’s net at 13:40 of the second with Caleb Wood and Brock Santa Maria drawing the contributors on the Soo’s go-ahead goal to give the Thunderbirds a 2 – 1 lead. Former Beaver Andrew Malek scores his third of the season to bring the hosts lead to 3 – 1 at 14:39 of the middle stanza. Toms and Kaden Dundas added the contributors on Malek’s goal.
On a Beaver powerplay 2:48 into the final period, Jacob Kelly fires his 11th of the season from the top of the left faceoff circle through traffic over Young’s left shoulder with a wrist shot to pull the Beavers within one for Blind River. Ethan Pegg and Michaud had the helpers on Kelly’s tying goal. Tying the game 3 – 3 for the Beavers was Blind River’s Matt Cato with his fourth of the season 4:55 into the third with Mason Chitaroni drawing the lone assist on Cato’s goal. On a Soo power play with a pass from the left of Disano’s net from Russell Oldham, Kurtis Rogers gives the Thunderbirds a 4 – 3 lead with his first of the 2020 – 2021 season. Ethan Novello had the other helper on Rogers’ goal at 12:27. Scoring tenth of the season and sixth in four games shorthanded, Thunderbird veteran Cooper Smyl picks up rebound after a Noah Boman breakway to cement a 5 – 3 win for the Soo with 5:45 remaining in Tuesday’s matchup at the John Rhodes Centre. Blind River goaltender Gavin Disano stopped 32 of 37 shots in the Beavers loss while Scott Young turned away 40 of 43 shots in the Calgary, Alberta’s third win of 2020 – 2021.
Saultsports asked Beaver coach Kyle Brick about the play of Jacob Kelly up to this point in the season with Brick saying that “Jake has been our engine all year, when he goes we go. Jacob is arguably the best player in the league. We were happy to have him as part of our team this year. It is nice when you have a player as skilled as him and he’s also one of your hardest workers.”
“Besides special teams I think the biggest difference in the game was the Thunderbird time out with a minute left in the game on the power play, I believe it completely changed the outcome. Will get back at it Saturday,” added Brick.
Check out Saultsports.com photographer Bob Davies photo gallery of the Beavers versus Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds and Beavers round out their six game series on March 6th and 7th in Blind River in back to back afternoon matinees with puck drop of 2:00 p.m on Saturday and Sunday.
