Thunder captures NOBHL title

The Soo Thunder are champions of the Northern Ontario Bantam Hockey League.

On Sunday afternoon, the Thunder defeated the Onaping Falls Huskies 4-3 to win the best-of-five league championship series 3-1.

The victory also means that the Thunder will represent the Northern Ontario Hockey Association at the Ontario AAA Bantam Championships to be held March 27 to April 1 in Mississauga.

The Thunder took a 2-0 series lead to Onaping Falls after winning a pair of games on home ice last weekend.

The Huskies extended the series with a thrilling game three win on Saturday night. Onaping Falls quickly fell behind by a score of 2-0 in the first period but rallied for five straight goals in the second period and then held on for a 6-5 win.

In the series clincher, it was the Thunder who rallied as Onaping Falls led 2-1 going into the third period. A Thunder goal in the first minute tied the score and then the teams traded goals to make it a 3-3 game going into the final minute of play.

With only 22 seconds remaining in the game, Tyler Hawdon scored the game winner to give the team their second-ever NOBHL playoff championship.

Niclas Beaudoin, Brett Thompson and Greig Dear also scored for the Thunder. Thompson and Josh Cerasuolo added two assists each while Michael Doan recorded the win in goal.

On Saturday, Matthew Amadio scored twice for the Thunder with singles going to Beaudoin, Thompson and Dereck Hurley. Micky Sartoretto and Drew MacMillan each recorded a pair of assists.

*** NOBHL PLAYOFFS:

FINALS

1. SOO THUNDER vs. 2. ONAPING FALLS

(Soo wins series 3-1)

Game 1 - Sat. Mar. 11 - Soo 8 Onaping Falls 2 Game 2 - Sun. Mar. 12 - Soo 6 Onaping Falls 4 Game 3 - Sat. Mar. 18 - Onaping Falls 6 Soo 5 Game 4 - Sun. Mar. 19 - Soo 4 Onaping Falls 3

SEMI-FINALS

1. SOO THUNDER vs. 5. NORTH BAY

(Soo wins series 3-0)

Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 25 - Soo 7 North Bay 2 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 26 - Soo 4 North Bay 0 Game 3 - Sat. Mar. 4 - Soo 6 North Bay 5 (OT)

2. ONAPING FALLS vs. 3. SUDBURY

(Onaping Falls wins series 3-2)

Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 25 - Sudbury 6 Onaping Falls 3 Game 2 - Sun. Feb. 26 - Onaping Falls 5 Sudbury 2 Game 3 - Sat. Mar. 4 - Onaping Falls 4 Sudbury 1 Game 4 - Sun. Mar. 5 - Sudbury 4 Onaping Falls 2 Game 5 - Tue. Mar. 7 - Onaping Falls 9 Sudbury 3

QUARTERFINALS

4. TIMMINS vs. 5. NORTH BAY

(North Bay wins series 2-0)

Game 1 - Sat. Feb. 18 - North Bay 2 Timmins 1 (OT) Game 2 - Sat. Feb. 18 - North Bay 4 Timmins 1

***