Thunderbirds trap Beavers in a corner

The Soo Thunderbirds have backed the Blind River Beavers into a corner.

The Thunderbirds used three first period goals to cruise to a 6-3 win on Tuesday night at Memorial Gardens to take a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League West Division semi-finals.

The Thunderbirds can wrap up the series with a win in game four on Wednesday night in Blind River at 7:30 p.m. If a fifth game is necessary, the teams will meet back in the Sault on Friday at the McMeeken Centre at 7:30 p.m.

Ryan MacKay led the Thunderbirds with two goals while singles went to Jason Weigel, Mike MacMillan, D.J. Jelitto and Aaron Anderson. Frank Maddaloni led Blind River with two goals while Justin Shelleby added another.

Maddaloni opened the scoring 1:32 into the game before the Thunderbirds answered with five straight goals.

MacKay scored his first goal on the power play at 5:24 of the first period before Weigel added another 35 seconds later. With the Thunderbirds up 3-1 heading into the second period, MacKay scored his second goal on the power play at 4:19 before Jelitto struck with another goal 13 seconds later.

Maddaloni and Anderson both scored power play markers in the third period.

Josh Leddy recorded three assists for the Thunderbirds while Tom Vernelli, MacMillan and Jelitto added two each. Drew Jarrett setup two goals for Blind River.

In other NOJHL action on Tuesday, the Northern Michigan Black Bears ended their Western Division series with the Manitoulin Wild with a 9-1 win in St. Ignace. Northern Michigan won the series 4-1.

Derek Stabile paced the Bears attack with three goals, Chris Kraft added two while John Nogatch, Russell Law, Ben Aring and Steve Kruszewski scored one each. Eldon Cheechoo replied for Manitoulin. Tony Stoehr picked up the win in net stopping 24 of the 25 shots.

The Black Bears will face the winner of the Thunberbirds and Blind River series for the division championship.

The Abitibi Eskimos evened their Eastern Division series with the Sudbury Northern Wolves at 2-2 with a 6-4 win at home.

Alain Brunet, Matt Tremblay, Corey Santamaria, Kurtis Camirand, Dave Moon and Matt Brunet scored for Abitibi while Kyle Doherty scored three and Cory McGillis one for Sudbury.

PHOTO: Blind River's Thomas Laplante bats at a loose puck in front of Thunderbirds goaltender Casey Mapes. (photos courtesy of Jim Egan)