Thunderbirds Beat Beavers in Dramatic Finish

Adam Pszeniczny scores winning goal with 55 seconds left in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League game

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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In a close Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League matchup, the Soo Thunderbirds defeated the Blind River Beavers 4-3 on Saturday night. Adam Pszeniczny scored the game-winning goal for the Thunderbirds with just 55 seconds remaining in regulation, capping off a back-and-forth contest that saw both teams exchange leads.

Why it matters

This victory keeps the Thunderbirds in the playoff hunt in the highly competitive Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. The Beavers, meanwhile, continue to struggle this season but showed they can compete with one of the top teams in the league.

The details

The Thunderbirds and Beavers traded power play goals in the first period, with Pszeniczny and Ilian Danilov each scoring with the man advantage. Deven Jones-McDonald put the Thunderbirds ahead in the second period, but Danilov and Geoffrey Boates scored in the third to give the Beavers a 3-2 lead. Landon Hill tied the game for the Thunderbirds with under six minutes remaining, setting the stage for Pszeniczny's late heroics.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 16, 2026.
  • Pszeniczny scored the game-winning goal with 55 seconds left in regulation.

The players

Adam Pszeniczny

A forward for the Soo Thunderbirds who scored two goals, including the game-winner with 55 seconds remaining.

Ilian Danilov

A forward for the Blind River Beavers who scored two power play goals to keep his team in the game.

Deven Jones-McDonald

A forward for the Soo Thunderbirds who scored a goal to give his team a 2-1 lead in the second period.

Geoffrey Boates

A forward for the Blind River Beavers who scored the go-ahead goal in the third period to make it 3-2 for his team.

Landon Hill

A forward for the Soo Thunderbirds who scored the game-tying goal with under six minutes remaining in regulation.

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What they’re saying

“That was a huge win for us tonight. The boys really battled hard and never gave up, and Adam came up big with that late goal to seal the victory.”

— Denny Lambert, Head Coach, Soo Thunderbirds (sootoday.com)

What’s next

The Thunderbirds will look to build on this win as they continue their push for a playoff spot in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. The Beavers, meanwhile, will try to regroup and find a way to earn more points in the standings.

The takeaway

This game showcased the competitive nature of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, with two teams battling until the final seconds. The Thunderbirds' ability to rally late and secure the victory demonstrates their resilience and determination to remain in the playoff hunt.