Thunderbirds can wrap up series on Thursday

The Soo Thunderbirds can advance into the second round of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs with a victory over the Blind River Beavers on Thursday night at the John Rhodes Community Centre.

The Thunderbirds lead the best-of-seven quarterfinal series 3-2.

On Tuesday, the Beavers avoided emlimination with a 6-3 game five win in Blind River.

If necessary, a seventh game is scheduled for Blind River on Friday night.

Elsewhere in the NOJHL, The Sudbury Junior Wolves have advanced with a 4-1 victory over the Manitoulin Islanders on Wednesday in Little Current. Sudbury wins the series 4-2.

In North Bay, the Skyhawks eliminated the Abitibi Eskimos with back-to-back shutouts including a 7-0 game six win on Wednesday.

North Bay's win sets up a semi-final series with the regular season champion Soo Indians while Sudbury will await the winner of the Soo and Blind River.

*** THUNDERBIRDS vs. BEAVERS - Game 5

Soo Thunderbirds 3 at Blind River 6 Soo Thunderbirds Lineup: Shawn Bibeau, Matt Conway, Ben Davey, Brad Dicandia, Ryan Dube, Tyler Gendron, Mark Hoffman, Rob Johnson, Adam Kauppi, Dylan King, Dan Klever, Tyler Lannigan, Nick Minardi, Travis O Brien, Brett Perlini, Adam Pyymaki, Jake Reid, Kyle Rodgers, Dan Vernelli, Randy Wills

Blind River Lineup: Matt Bell, Jason Bird, Tanner Burton, Jacob Chiblow, Adam Combs, Jon Drake, Alex Durinka, Josh Faulkner, Andre Gauvin, Jesse Gionette, Rob Higgins, Jeremy Hilliard, Matt Irving, David Jarick, Andre Laperriere, Brett LaValley, Tyler Liukkonen, Owen Peltier, Shawn Sirman, Tyler Stephens

First Period 1. SOO: Brad Dicandia (Matt Conway, ) 07:01 FG 2. SOO: Dylan King (Kyle Rodgers, Adam Kauppi) 08:54 PP 3. BR: Jason Bird (Jeremy Hilliard, ) 11:46 4. BR: Alex Durinka (Josh Faulkner, Matt Bell) 12:05 5. BR: Jon Drake (David Jarick, ) 15:33 PP 6. BR: Jon Drake (Alex Durinka, Josh Faulkner) 18:14 GW PP

Penalties: Jeremy Hilliard BR (RO) 2 min 07:19; Adam Kauppi SOO (HS) 2 min 13:52; Matt Conway SOO (TR) 2 min 17:26; Jeremy Hilliard BR (ELB) 2 min 18:46; Adam Combs BR (HO) 2 min 19:02; Brett Perlini SOO (INT) 2 min 19:53;

Second Period No Scoring

Penalties: Jason Bird BR (SL) 2 min 00:18; Matt Bell BR (HKG) 2 min 01:29; Tyler Stephens BR (USC) 2 min 19:08; Brad Dicandia SOO (USC) 2 min 19:08;

Third Period 7. BR: Josh Faulkner (Jon Drake, Alex Durinka) 02:47 8. SOO: Brett Perlini (Nick Minardi, Dylan King) 06:03 PP 9. BR: Matt Irving (Shawn Sirman, ) 19:54 EN

Penalties: Andre Gauvin BR (HO) 2 min 05:48; Jesse Gionette BR (TR) 2 min 14:44;

Shots on Goal Soo Thunderbirds 19 5 15 - 39 Blind River 19 10 11 - 40 Goaltenders Shawn Sirman (BR) - W Ryan Dube (SOO) - L Game Stars 1. Jon Drake (BR) 2. Dylan King (SOO) 3. Shawn Sirman (BR) Game Attendance 553 ***