Thunderbirds win NOJHL title (5 Photos)

The Soo Thunderbirds are heading to the Dudley Hewitt Cup.

The Thunderbirds beat the North Bay Trappers 3-2 on Tuesday night at the Essar Centre to win the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League championship.

“You’ll hear every athlete say (winning a championship) never gets old,” said Thunderbirds coach Preston Mizzi. “Between junior hockey and professional hockey, which was about 16 or 17 years, I won one championship. I still talk to the guys that I won with and we still keep in touch. It’s something that you never forget.”

Matt Amadio scored at 7:14 of the third period on the power play to boost the Thunderbirds to the victory. Kevin Michelcavage scored a pair of goals in the win.

Thunderbirds goaltender John Kleinhans stopped 37 shots in the win, including 16 in the third period.

“Unbelievable,” Mizzi said of the veteran netminder. “He came to our team with a goal and that was to win a championship and that’s exactly what he did. You can’t say enough about the kid. He’s been unbelievable all year.”

Brandon Janke and Ryan Brain scored for the Trappers while goaltender Mitchell Knight stopped 36 shots.

“I’m so proud of this hockey team, every individual in that room,” said Trappers coach Tom McCarthy. “They’ve been great students of the game this year. We continued to battle and show the character of our team.”

The Thunderbirds now advance to the Dudley Hewitt Cup which opens on Apr. 17. The tournament features the league champions from the NOJHL, Superior International Junior Hockey League and the Ontario Junior Hockey League as well as the host Thunder Bay North Stars. The Thunderbirds will open the tournament by facing the SIJHL champions.

Both the SIJHL and OJHL are currently in their respective league finals as well. The Fort Frances Lakers and Wisconsin Wilderness are going to a seventh and deciding game which is set for Wednesday night at Wisconsin. In the OJHL, the Whitby Fury and Stouffville Spirit are heading to game five Wednesday night at Stouffville with the series tied at two. Game six is Friday night at Whitby.

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GAME NOTES

• Micky Sartoretto was named the Playoff MVP following the win
• Local referee Scott Thibeault was honoured prior to the third period of the game. Tuesday’s game marked the final Junior hockey game for Thibeault, who has been a fixture at Thunderbirds, Soo North Stars and Soo Greyhounds games for many years.

Game photos courtesy Jim Egan