The Soo Thunderbirds have forced a winner-take-all seventh game in their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League quarter-final series after a 4-1 victory against the Timmins Rock on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Playing at the John Rhodes Community Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, the Thunderbirds relied on a strong defensive performance and timely scoring to keep their playoff run alive. Defenceman Vincent Bondy scored the game-winning goal in the first period, while goaltender Nathan Maguire was instrumental in the win, stopping 31 of 32 shots from the Timmins side.
Forward Aiden Atkinson also contributed to the victory, extending his current league-best playoff point streak to six consecutive games with a first-period goal. The win brings the best-of-seven series to a 3-3 tie, shifting the final deciding match to the McIntyre Arena in Timmins.
The two teams are scheduled to face off for the final time on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 7 p.m. The winner of this game will move on to the semifinals to face the Hearst Lumberjacks. Fans unable to attend in person can follow the action through the broadcast partner, FLOHockey.tv.
