Soo T-Birds ready for battle at national playoff

The champions of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play the best Canadian junior ‘ A ‘ hockey teams in Estevan, Saskatchewan.

Just a week after winning the NOJHL championship, the Soo Thunderbirds are now in Estevan, Sk. for the Centennial Cup.

“There was no Dudley Hewitt Cup, the Central Canadian Junior A Championship, this year. So this is great that the winner of the NOJHL goes directly to the Centennial Cup,” said Rob Mazzuca, NOJHL Commissioner.

“The Soo Thunderbirds are a terrific team. They reeled off 26-straight wins at one point.”

The T-Birds faced an uphill battle in the NOJHL final, losing the first three games, before coming back to win four consecutive games against the Hearst Lumberjacks.

“They had an incredible five weeks,” said Mazzucca.

“They had hot goaltending, and that’s what you need to get to the nationals, and the T-birds got that. It’s probably the hardest fought series I’ve seen in 11 years.”

Mazzuca said the Thunderbirds are a resilient team. And, he believes they stack up well against the competition at the national level.

“They knew what it would take to win, and kept on going against Hearst. This is going to be a great event for the T-Birds because this is a short-term tournament.”

“By the way, the Soo is the youngest team at this tournament and they’re going to have fun.” said Mazzuca

As to who might win the Centennial Cup?

“The Soo Thunderbirds rank in the top 20 in the country, but the odds on favourite is the Brook Bandits from Alberta, and then you have the Summerside Western Capitals from Prince Edward Island.“

The Soo Thunderbirds lost their first game Thursday against the Flin Flon Bombers by a score of 6-1.

The T-Birds play the Summerside Western Capitals from PEI Friday at 6 P.M.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Details leading up to Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death revealed

A long-time, close friend of Hardeep Singh Nijjar says the Sikh activist found a tracking device underneath his car before he was killed outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in June.

Disney+ following Netflix's lead in crack down on password sharing in Canada

Streaming platform Disney+ is updating its subscriber agreement and is adding a no-sharing passwords policy.

Hundreds of derelict vessels removed from Canadian waters, Coast Guard says

The Canadian Coast Guard is working its way through a Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act inventory, armed with the power to fine owners of vessels that threaten marine environments or public safety.

ER doctor challenging 'toxic environment' in Ontario hospital after secret investigation based on unfounded murder allegation

After more than 30 years of caring for critically ill patients in emergency and intensive care, Dr. Scott Anderson is preparing to face off against the hospital where he works in London, Ont., in a case described as "unusual" by lawyers and potentially costly for Ontario taxpayers.

Hyundai and Kia recall nearly 3.4 million U.S. vehicles due to fire risk and urge owners to park outdoors

Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 3.4 million vehicles and telling owners to park them outside due to the risk of engine compartment fires.

Ontario widower stuck with US$100K+ medical bill after late wife hospitalized on vacation

An Ontario widower, still grieving his wife's death, is unsure how to pay for a medical bill from their last vacation to Florida, which costs more than US$124,000.

U.S. judge rules Donald Trump defrauded banks, insurers while building real estate empire

A U.S. judge ruled Tuesday that Donald Trump committed fraud for years while building the real estate empire that catapulted him to fame and the White House, and he ordered some of the former president's companies removed from his control and dissolved.

West-end Barrie roads under lock-down while police investigate possible explosion

Barrie police are investigating an early-morning incident on Anne Street North.
New senior-centric development on the table at Barrie City Hall

Hundreds of new long-term care beds could be coming to Barrie in the coming years.
Massive police search underway for missing man in Bracebridge

Provincial police are conducting a massive search in Bracebridge for a man who went for a walk Saturday night and never returned.

Toronto

Ontario widower stuck with US$100K+ medical bill after late wife hospitalized on vacation

An Ontario widower, still grieving his wife's death, is unsure how to pay for a medical bill from their last vacation to Florida, which costs more than US$124,000.
Four-alarm fire in Toronto's Queen West neighbourhood leaves 2 injured, including firefighter

Two people, including one firefighter, have been injured following a four-alarm fire at a cluster of three-storey buildings in the city’s Queen West neighbourhood.
West-end Barrie roads under lock-down while police investigate possible explosion

Barrie police are investigating an early-morning incident on Anne Street North.

Ottawa

City of Ottawa owed millions in outstanding fines for red light running, photo radar violations

Drivers in Ontario and Quebec owe the city of Ottawa millions of dollars in unpaid fines for running red lights and photo radar violations over the past six years, according to statistics provided to CTV News Ottawa.
Fire damages Bank Street business overnight

Ottawa police are investigating an overnight fire at a business on Bank Street, one of two fires at businesses in the capital overnight.
Rockcliffe Park fountain fight a wellspring of cascading complaints

Construction of a water fountain in front of a home in one of Ottawa's most exclusive neighbourhoods has spilled over into a dispute that has involved police, bylaw, and emails to hundreds of people.

Kitchener

One dead after shooting in Kitchener

Waterloo regional police are investigating a deadly shooting in Kitchener.
'This is finally finished': Driver who killed Ont. teen and hid vehicle for 14 years sentenced

The driver who hit and killed a Fergus, Ont. 18-year-old, and the woman who helped him cover it up, were sentenced in a Guelph court Tuesday, nearly 15 years after the fatal crash.
Tony Grace says goodbye to CTV Kitchener

After four years in Kitchener, and 22 years with CTV, Tony Grace is taking his talent to CTV National News.

London

Veltman murder trial: Here's what you need to know before day 14

The trial of Nathanial Veltman continues in a Windsor courtroom Wednesday with cross examination of London Police Service Const. Sarah Cochrane.
OPP to help residents fight fraud with information session

The Elgin County OPP detachment, along with the help of the Vienna Lions Club, will be hosting a ‘FIGHTfraud’ presentation and information session to help residents in the Municipality of Bayham.
ER doctor challenging 'toxic environment' in Ontario hospital after secret investigation based on unfounded murder allegation

After more than 30 years of caring for critically ill patients in emergency and intensive care, Dr. Scott Anderson is preparing to face off against the hospital where he works in London, Ont., in a case described as "unusual" by lawyers and potentially costly for Ontario taxpayers.

Windsor

Veltman murder trial: Here's what you need to know before day 14

The trial of Nathanial Veltman continues in a Windsor courtroom Wednesday with cross examination of London Police Service Const. Sarah Cochrane.
Lakeshore and LaSalle vote against regional garbage pick-up for Essex County

As organic waste collection becomes a requirement, the County of Essex is revisiting its garbage pick-up with two more municipalities voting against a regional approach.
St. Clair College names its 7th president

The St. Clair College Board of Governors has unanimously approved a new president for the college.

Montreal

'COVID is making a comeback' in Quebec, says MUHC specialist

Many people have been able to enjoy the summer, while pushing away thoughts of the pandemic. This fall however, there's been a rise in cases of COVID 19 in Quebec and there's new information about how the virus behaves now and should be managed.
Westwood Senior High School closed as 'precaution' after threat

Westwood Senior High School in Hudson, Que. is closed Wednesday after a threat was made against it earlier this week.
Point-Saint-Charles residents bring noise complaints to town hall on REM

A group of frustrated residents gathered in Point-Saint-Charles Tuesday night to air their grievances with the new -- and noisy -- REM.

Atlantic

'This was my home': N.B. senior believes renoviction was unfair

Ann Marie Lavigne, 68, lived at Résidence Ste-Thérèse in Dieppe, N.B. for three years before her lease was terminated this spring.
'Extraordinary seizure of cocaine': N.S. RCMP credit international investigation for disrupting drug ring

Nova Scotia RCMP says an international investigation has disrupted a transnational drug ring and led to the seizure of a large amount of cocaine, about $170,000 in cash and $120,000-worth of silver bars.
HRM investigating whether different pit bulls were involved in fatal attacks

Animal Control investigators in Halifax confirm they're examining the possibility two different pit bulls with the same owner were responsible for the deaths of two smaller dogs in Bedford, N.S., on the weekend.

Winnipeg

Crash in St. Vital leaves one person dead

One person is dead following a crash in St. Vital on Tuesday night.
High school students charged, weapons seized: Manitoba RCMP

The Manitoba RCMP arrested several teenagers in Portage la Prairie on Monday after seizing various weapons, including machetes, knives, and BB guns.
Manitoba RCMP rescue pilot from plane crash

A pilot has been brought to safety following a plane crash on Sunday near the Red Sucker Lake airport.

Calgary

Overnight fire rips through Skyview Ranch home

An early morning fire in the Calgary community of Skyview Ranch decimated a home and damaged two others.
Man riding scooter seriously injured in collision with vehicle: police

A man is in serious but stable condition after he was hit by a vehicle while riding a scooter in downtown Calgary on Tuesday.
'They're meaningless': Surveys on proposed Alberta pension plan receive mixed reactions

Alberta’s proposed provincial pension plan is creating mixed reactions as the government asks Albertans what they want to see if the province pulls out of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).

Edmonton

House of Commons to elect new Speaker as Rota's resignation takes effect

The resignation of House of Commons Speaker Anthony Rota is set to take effect this evening and procedure dictates MPs must go through the process of electing a new Speaker before they can continue with their normal business.
'They're meaningless': Surveys on proposed Alberta pension plan receive mixed reactions

Alberta’s proposed provincial pension plan is creating mixed reactions as the government asks Albertans what they want to see if the province pulls out of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
Missing boy, 5, found alive east of Edmonton

A five-year-old boy who disappeared from Frog Lake First Nation was found Tuesday evening, more than 24 hours after he disappeared.

Vancouver

B.C. quietly employs foreign-trained doctors as equity and care concerns loom

Dozens of foreign-trained doctors are now working under special licenses requiring supervision in B.C. hospitals, while more are being recruited for deployment as family doctors in urgent care centres, CTV News has learned.
Details leading up to Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death revealed

A long-time, close friend of Hardeep Singh Nijjar says the Sikh activist found a tracking device underneath his car before he was killed outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in June.
B.C. mayors react to newly unveiled housing targets

The province unveiled its new housing targets for 10 communities across B.C. – which found themselves earlier this year on the so-called “naughty list.”

Soo T-Birds ready for battle at national playoff

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Stay Connected