Thunderbirds wrap up NOJHL regular season

The Soo Thunderbirds wrapped up the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League regular season on Wednesday night.

Lucas Theriault had a natural hat trick in the opening period and finished the day with four goals to pace the Thunderbirds offensively.

Theriault finished tops in the league with 40 goals. Theriault finished in a tie with teammate Noah Boman for top spot in the league with 76 points.

Boman had a pair of assists in Wednesday’s win, as did Steven Bellini and Matthew Bazarin.

Avery Rebek had the other goal for the Thunderbirds.

Goaltender William Anderson stopped 29 shots for the Thunderbirds.

Blind River goaltender Garret Boyonoski stopped 27 shots before being pulled after the fifth Thunderbirds goal. Patrick Boivin stopped all six shots he faced the rest of the way.

The Thunderbirds end the regular season with a 44-11-0-1 record and with the top record in the NOJHL, have home ice throughout the playoffs.

Blind River finished the regular season with a 25-25-5-2 record and opens playoff action on Friday night against the Elliot Lake Wildcats in a best-of-3 quarterfinal series.

The series winner will face the Thunderbirds in a best-of-7 semifinal series.