Thunderbirds return to action with a new line of defense

The Soo Thunderbirds get back into Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action this week for the first time in the new year with a much different look.

In less than a month, the Thunderbirds have totally revamped their goaltending situation with several different moves resulting in the eventual entrance of Jarrett Michaels and Casey Mapes as the two goaltenders that will lead the team down the stretch.

Mike Downer took control of the team as the starter early but began to slide as the season wore on. Local product Frank Carlucci left the team and then former Soo Greyhound Joey Biasucci entered the mix in December from the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers along with another newcomer in Matt McBride.

Biasucci was expected to take the reigns but a back problem that has plagued the local product all season forced him to make a decision and hang up the pads for the season to heal.

With the goaltending situation still in disarray, the Thunderbirds pulled off three deals before the deadline bringing in Michaels from the Michigan Soo Indians of the North American Hockey League and Mapes from the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League. Downer was traded to Fort Frances' Boarderland Thunder in Superior International Hockey League. All moves involved cash heading the other way.

Michaels recorded a win in two games with Indians and posted a 2.89 goals against average and a .857 svae percentage.

With one card remaining, Thunderbirds head coach and director of hockey operations Jim Capy would like to add some depth on defense. With the trade deadline having passed, the Thunderbirds can only sign an Ontario player who has been outright released from another team before February 10th.

"We would like to add one more player on defense simply because we have been snake bitten with injuries for the most part of the year. We like the depth of having seven defenseman and 13 forwards to have an extra guy at each position," said Capy.

The Thunderbirds begin a two-game homestand on Wednesday as the Blind River Beavers visit the John Rhodes Community Centre for a 7:30 p.m. start. On Friday, two of the league's elite teams battle as the Thunderbirds host the Sudbury Northern Wolves at 7:30 p.m. at the Rhodes.

"I don't want to look past Blind River on Wednesday. Northern Michigan is tied with us and we have a bunch of games in hand but they don't mean anything unless you win them. Blind River can beat anyone and they have probably one the best scoring lines in the league. If you want to talk about Sudbury, call me on Thursday," added Capy.

Capy had his first look at the two new goaltenders as the Thunderbirds began the new year on Saturday night with a 4-3 overtime loss to the powerful USA Under-18 squad in Gaylord, Michigan. Despite the exhibition loss, Capy was ecstatic with his team's performance against such a high calibre team.

"Based on (the goaltenders) performance last night we are very pleased after they thrown into the fire against the Under-18 team," said Capy. "Overall we feel our goaltending is better now than at the start of the season. We're comfortable with either one in net and we feel like we've strengthened that position,"

D.J. Jelitto, Alex Butkus and Tom Vernelli scored for the T-Birds, who trailed 1-0 after one period and 2-1 after two, while Michaels played the first two periods before Mapes entered and went the distance from there.

Michaels stopped 21 of the 23 shots he faced while Mapes made 10 saves in the third period and overtime.

"That might have been our best game of the season," said Capy. "The U.S. team tied Lake State on Friday and then we are able to take them to a shootout. You're not happy when you lose but when you are playing the top 17 year-old players in the United States, who play against division one college teams, and take them to a shootout, we feel like we might have turned the corner.

"I think our guys are learning what it takes to be successful. For the first time all year we played like a team and not as individuals and that has been an issue with us this year. You can't be successful without team chemistry and I am optimistic right now."

The USA squad entered the game fresh off a 3-3 tie with the Lake Superior State University Lakers in the Michigan Sault on Friday night.