In just their second season, they rose all the way to the very peak.
The Hearst Lumberjacks announced themselves as the best team in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League by finishing off a hard fought seven game series with the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds in style as 6-3 winners last night.
The Lumberjacks, who finished the regular season first in the Eastern division with 33 wins and 73 points, were still an entire 16 points separated from the 44 win, 89-point Thunderbirds who wrapped up first in the Western division during the year.
However, a seven-game series which included two home and two road victories for the ‘Jacks ended in their favour thanks to out shooting the Soo 31-27 and a title-sealing empty net marker from Bradley Golant with just 90 seconds to go.
Thanks to their first ever Copeland Cup-McNamara Trophy victory, the Lumberjacks season is also not done just yet.
Hearst has now earned themselves a spot in the annual Dudley-Hewitt Cup, beginning next Tuesday and running through May 4th and to also be hosted by fellow NOJHL club the Cochrane Crunch.
The ‘Jacks know a spot at the Canadian National Junior A Championships in Brooks, Alberta is up for grabs.
