T-Birds drop tough affair with Sudbury (4 photos)

The Soo Thunderbirds and Sudbury Junior Wolves have developed quite a rivalry this season in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Thunderbirds head coach Toots Kovacs feels that the Sault and Sudbury rivalry is one that exists at all levels of hockey and the NOJHL is no exemption.

On Friday night at the John Rhodes Community Centre, the Wolves scored a 2-0 victory over the Thunderbirds in a game that featured plenty of fisticuffs, including a marquee matchup between two NOJHL stars in the Soo's Ryan Maunu and Sudbury's Brian McGarry.

"There is an honest dislike between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury from major junior to the NOJHL on down to midget and bantam," said Kovacs. "We have had a couple of tough games against them this year. It's all a part of the game and nothing is getting out of hand.

"Ryan has had a couple of tilts this year but I thought he did something that I thought should have fired up our team but we didn't respond until the third period. I don't condone Ryan Maunu fighting but I'm happy that he stuck up for himself because he gets whacked quite a bit. I think it caught both coaches by surprise."

The shutout marked the first time this season that the Thunderbirds have been blanked.

After a scoreless opening period, the Wolves would put up all the offense they would need in the second frame as Rob Bonhomme and Jordan Prevost beat Thunderbirds goaltender Michael Maulucci in the period's final five minutes.

Paul Pidutti recorded the shutout for Sudbury by stopping all 28 shots directed his way. Maulucci stopped 30 of 32 shots.

"We have four guys in the top 10 for scoring and yet we couldn't get one by him," said Kovacs. "We started slow and our best period was the third and our worst was the second. Hopefully Sunday night against Blind River we come focused and ready to play.

"It was disappointing that we didn't get two points because we are trying to catch these guys. On the same hand, we have to look behind us because Northern Michigan is creeping up.

"Everyone wants to finish in first place because if you don't there is something wrong with you. You play every game to win. Regardless of the bye in the first round, you strive to be the best. We're going to work our butts off to get first place and we're not conceding a place to anyone."

The loss drops the Thunderbirds third place record to 20-11-1 for 41 points and puts the team nine points behind the Wolves for first place overall.

The Thunderbirds are back in action on Sunday at the Rhodes against the Blind River Beavers at 7 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on SportsJuice.com.

(Photos courtesy of Jim Egan.)