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As quick as it began, the exhibition season is over for the Soo Thunderbirds.
After a win on home ice Friday night, the Thunderbirds picked up a 7-4 win over the Blind River Beavers Saturday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League exhibition action, capping off the exhibition season for both clubs.
The Thunderbirds jumped out to a 3-1 lead through 30 minutes on Saturday en route to the win.
The lead saw the team get an early power play goal from Avery Rebek and then add to it with goals coming shortly after killing off two 5-on-3 disadvantages in the frame.
Russell Oldham redirected a feed from Will Josephson near the midway point of the opening period to put the Thunderbirds up a pair before Rebek got his second of the night on a redirection of a feed by Michael Chaffay with just under six minutes to go in the period.
“It was a totally different game [compared to Friday],” said Thunderbirds coach Denny Lambert. “It was refereed differently, and not in a bad way because everyone is trying to get used to the new way of how we expect to play the game. Everybody is feeling it out.
“It was huge to come off those two kills and come back and score,” Lambert added. “It was a huge lift.”
Joel Martin got Blind River on the board moments after Rebek’s second goal and the Beavers cut further into the Thunderbirds lead with a goal by Sam Davies just under seven minutes into the second period.
The Thunderbirds would take a 5-2 lead into the third period thanks to a pair of goals by Cooper Smyl.
Connor Toms and Caleb Wood capped off the Thunderbirds scoring with goals in the third period.
Lucas Adams and Mason Chitaroni scored in the final period for Blind River.
Thunderbirds goaltender Alex Bugeja was busy, stopping 49 Blind River shots in the win, which included 17 in the opening period and 21 more down the stretch in the final period.
“Everybody will say it, your penalty kill is based on your goaltending and it starts from there and he was solid,” Lambert said. “Even five-on-five where there were some breakdowns and [Blind River] had some Grade A scoring chances, he came up big. He’s a battler. He doesn’t stop competing for the puck. He’s very quick. He’s athletic and he’s agile.”
Blind River goaltender Gavin Disano made 39 saves in the contest.
Smyl also picked up a pair of assists for the Thunderbirds, giving the second year forward four points on the night. Rebek finished the night with a pair of goals and two assists as well.
With the new rules in place with regards to hitting, Lambert spoke of it being an adjustment. Saturday’s contest saw more special teams play compared to Friday’s exhibition opener.
“It was a hard game to coach because there was no flow,” Lambert said. “You want to use your whole lineup. Guys that don’t usually go on the power play or the penalty kill, you’re trying to use everybody out there so you can get them some ice time. It was a tough game to coach and to play, but the guys came through.”
With a pair of exhibition games in the books, the Thunderbirds and Beavers will return to action with a home-and-home series next weekend to open regular season action.
The Thunderbirds will host the Beavers on Saturday night at the John Rhodes Community Centre before meeting on Sunday afternoon in Blind River.