PHOTOS: Rob Fera – Sudbury Light Event Photography
SUDBURY, Ont. – Getting two goals each from Cameron Walker and Samuel Assinewai helped lead the Greater Sudbury Cubs to a 7-4 triumph over the Hearst Lumberjacks Thursday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
The hometown Cubs were first to strike in the match-up as Marshall McCharles finished off some slick passing from Hudson Chitaroni and Zachary Major to beat Hearst netminder Tristan Boileau at 4:19.
The Lumberjacks were quick to counter however when Owen Hay picked up his first NOJHL goal just 38 seconds later by wheeling out of the corner into the slot and roofing a shot over the glove of Greater Sudbury starter Noah Metivier.
Regrouping, the Cubs went back on top off of Chitaroni’s initial league marker as he steered in a cross-ice feed off the stick of teammate Hudson Martin.
Hearst pressed hard for the equalizer into the second period and were finally rewarded at 15:05 when Alex McDonald sent a nifty back hand from behind the net to a waiting Tyler Patterson at the top of crease who guided his chance by Metivier.
However, Greater Sudbury came right back 25 seconds later to regain the lead compliments of Walker neatly tipping in a Brady Bouchard snap shot from the point.
The hosts then got another in transition that allowed them to dash into the Hearst zone where McCharles put a perfect feed across to Walker, who promptly blasted in a one-timer from close range that left Boileau with little chance.
Heading to the final frame, the Cubs extended their edge a couple minutes in when Assinewai corralled a bouncing puck and lifted it into the upper right corner of the net.
The final six minutes provided two tallies apiece to cap off the high-scoring affair.
Ben Lacroix’s first as a member of Greater Sudbury came as he tucked in a rebound that Boileau could not control at 14:52.
Getting that back Maddoc Newton initial league marker helped Hearst move closer by pinballing one in right off a face-off win.
Assinewai came back with another moments later though as he had a couple of cracks at it before stuffing in his second of the evening.
The Lumberjacks then wrapped up the night’s scoring with a man advantage effort in the latter stages of the contest with Patterson, completing a solid passing play with Liam Boswell and Mathieu Comeau.
The win for Metivier was his 40th in the NOJHL.
Greater Sudbury is right back at it Friday as they welcome the defending NOJHL champion Timmins Rock in a 7:05 p.m.
Hearst meanwhile travels to Espanola to meet the Paper Kings at 7:30 p.m.
All NOJHL games are streamed live, and on demand, via FLOHockey.tv.
“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel
