NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release Date: Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Thunderbirds thump Nickel Barons to go up 3-0 in series
SAULT STE. MARIE – The Soo Thunderbirds struck for four first goals and never looked back en route to a 9-2 drubbing of the Sudbury Nickel Barons Tuesday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League semifinal playoff action at Essar Centre.
With the victory Sault Ste. Marie now leads the best-of-seven series 3-0 and can close it out in game 4, which goes Wednesday at McClelland Arena in Copper Cliff. The opening face-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
Derek Batagin paced the Thunderbirds attack tallying twice and setting up two others while Joseph Miller added a hat-trick.
Gavin Burbach, with a pair, Dallas McLaughlin and A.J. Kapchek notched the other markers for the T-Birds with McLaughlin, Michael Caruso and Grant Syrette each chipping in with a couple of helpers.
Andre Comtois was the only Sudbury skater to score and he supplied for goals for his side.
Joel Horodziejczyk made 28 stops to pick up the victory for the Soo.
Alex Laino started for the Nickel Barons and suffered the loss allowing three goals on 10 shots.
Michael Muzyka turned aside nine of 15 in relief.
NOJHL Playoffs: Round 2
Semifinals
Series D
No. 1 North Bay Trappers vs. No. 4 Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
Best-of-seven series tied 1-1
Game 1: North Bay 2 Kirkland Lake 1 (OT)
Game 2: Kirkland Lake 2 North Bay 1
Game 3: Friday, April 5 @ Kirkland Lake 7:30 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac)
Game 4: Saturday, April 6 @ Kirkland Lake 7:30 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac)
Game 5: Monday, April 8 @ North Bay 7 p.m. (Memorial Gardens)
Game 6*: Tuesday, April 9 @ Kirkland Lake 7:30 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac)
Game 7*: Thursday, April 11 @ North Bay 7 p.m. (Memorial Gardens)
* – if necessary
Series E
No. 2 Soo Thunderbirds vs. 3 Sudbury Nickel Barons
Thunderbirds lead best-of-seven series 3-0
Game 1: Soo 4 Sudbury 1
Game 2: Soo 2 Sudbury 1
Game 3: Soo 9 Sudbury 2
Game 4: Wednesday, April 3 @ Sudbury 7:30 p.m. (McClelland)
Game 5*: Friday, April 5 @ Soo 7:30 p.m. (Essar Centre)
Game 6*: Monday, April 8 @ Sudbury 7:30 p.m. (McClelland)
Game 7*: Wednesday, April 10 @ Soo 7:30 p.m. (Essar Centre)
* – if necessary
