SUDBURY – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League announced Tuesday the schedule for the upcoming West Division final between the Soo Thunderbirds and Elliot Lake Wildcats.
As the No. 1 seed, Sault Ste. Marie will serve as the home team for games one and three and, if necessary, five and seven.
Elliot Lake will be home for games two and four, as well as six, if that is required.
Each contest in the series features a 7:30 p.m. start.
This best-of-seven affair will get underway Thursday at Essar Centre.
Game 2 will go Saturday at Centennial Arena.
Monday, March 30 will be the date for Game 3 with the Thunderbirds hosting the Wildcats back at Essar Centre.
Game 4 is then slated for Wednesday, April 1 in Elliot Lake.
Should a fifth game in the series be needed, it will be contested Saturday, April 4 with Essar Centre once again serving as the venue.
The Wildcats would host Game 6, if necessary, on Monday, April 6 at Centennial.
If the series goes the distance, then Essar Centre will be the place to be on Wednesday, April 8 for the finale.
The team that comes out on top will meet the winner of the NOJHL’s other semifinal match-up between the Cochrane Crunch and Powassan Voodoos for the league championship.
NOJHL West Division final
No. 1 Soo Thunderbirds vs. No. 2 Elliot Lake Wildcats
Best-of-seven series
Game 1: Thursday, March 26 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7:30 p.m. (Essar Centre)
Game 2: Saturday, March 28 @ Elliot Lake 7:30 p.m. (Centennial Arena)
Game 3: Monday, March 30 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7:30 p.m. (Essar Centre)
Game 4: Wednesday, April 1 @ Elliot Lake 7:30 p.m. (Centennial Arena)
Game 5*: Saturday, April 4 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7:30 p.m. (Essar Centre)
Game 6*: Monday, April 6 @ Elliot Lake 7:30 p.m. (Centennial Arena)
Game 7*: Wednesday, April 8 @ Sault Ste. Marie 7:30 p.m. (Essar Centre)
*-if necessary