Thunderbirds set for division final

The top two teams in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s West Division are set to do battle.

The Soo Thunderbirds will host the Rayside-Balfour Canadians on Saturday night in game one of their best-of-7 West Division final.

The game is set for the John Rhodes Community Centre.

Game two is the following night, also at the John Rhodes.

Puck drop for both games is set for 7 p.m.

The series shifts to Chelmsford for games three and four on April 3 and 4.

If necessary, game five is back in Sault Ste. Marie on April 6. Game six is set for Chelmsford on April 8 and game seven would be April 10 in Sault Ste. Marie.

The Thunderbirds advanced to the division final thanks to a six-game series win over the Blind River Beavers in their West Division semifinal series.

Steven Bellini’s power play goal with one minute to go in the second period was the game-winner.

Lucas Theriault, Ryan Lawrence, and Kaidan McDonald also scored for the Thunderbirds.

Goaltender Colin Ahern stopped 24 shots.

Ryan Peck had a goal and an assist for Blind River while Riley Nadeau and Ethan Graham also scored.

Blind River netminder Jackson Hjelle stopped 16 shots.

Rayside advanced thanks to a 4-2 series win over the Soo (Mich.) Eagles, which included a 4-0 win in game six on Tuesday night.