Thunderbirds ink 19-year-old forward

The start of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League regular season may still be up in the air but the rosters of many teams, including the Soo Thunderbirds locally, are taking shape ahead of the 2020-21 season.

On Friday, the Thunderbirds announced the signing of 19-year-old forward Russell Oldham

A 6-1, 194-pound winger split the 2019-20 season in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League with the St. Thomas Stars and Komoka Kings.

Oldham started the season with St. Thomas, scoring four times and assisting on six other goals in 17 games.

In 32 games with Komoka, Oldham had 10 goals and 24 points.

In early June, the Thunderbirds signed a pair of locals from the Great North Midget League’s Soo Jr. Greyhounds in Michael Chaffay and Ty Zachary.

In 35 games with the Jr. Greyhounds, Chaffay led the team in goals with 34 and finished the season with 53 points.

Meanwhile, Zachary scored 11 times and had 39 points in 38 games with the Jr. Greyhounds.

Both players also got into action with the Thunderbirds last season. Chaffay played in eight games, scoring once and assisting on three other goals while Zachary had a goal and three points in seven NOJHL games.