Soo Thunderbirds set to take on Jr. A nationals

The Soo Thunderbirds just keep rolling along.

The NOJHL champions booked their tickets to Portage-la-Prairie, Man., site of the 2015 RBC Cup Canadian Jr A Championships, last Saturday in Fort Frances, edging the host Fort Frances Lakers 3-2 in the final of the Dudley-Hewitt Cup.

The Thunderbirds opened the scoring midway through the middle frame, thanks to a well-placed shot from Nicolas Tassone, with Wyatt Cota getting that one back for Fort Frances a short while later.

Tassone tapped in his second of the night at 18:14 of the second period, taking advantage of a goal mouth scramble, with the Lakers taking all of 43 seconds to deadlock the contest for a second time.

Pinching in from the point, defenseman Nick Minerva slammed home a rebound after Sault Ste. Marie goaltender Mario Culina stopped a wrist shot from Cota. With the contest tied at 2-2, all would be settled in the final 20 minutes of play.

Matt Pinder scored the most important goal of his hockey career, netting the game-winner just four minutes into the final frame, as the Thunderbirds held the fort through the final 16 minutes of tense action.

Tassone earned the player of the game honours for Sault Ste. Marie, while teammate and NOJHL Playoff MVP Owen Headrick was recognized as most sportsmanlike player. The Dudley championship is the first for an NOJHL representative since the Thunderbirds last turned the trick in 2012.

The 2015 field has now been rounded out, as the host Portage Terriers (MJHL), Carleton Place Canadians (CCHL), Penticton Vees (BCHL) and Melfort Mustangs (SJHL) join the T-Birds in Manitoba.

Suiting up with the Canadians is former Sudbury Wolves' defenseman David Eccles, who played 29 OHL games between stops in Sudbury and Sault Ste Marie. The Thunderbirds kick off round-robin play May 9, facing Carleton Place at 8 p.m., before receiving a bye on Sunday.