Photos: Sudbury Light Event Photography
SUDBURY, Ont. – A big night offensively by the Greater Sudbury Cubs trio of Oliver Smith, Pierson Sobush and Billy Biedermann helped send them to a 7-4 victory over the Espanola Paper Kings in a goal-filled Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair Thursday evening at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
It took the Cubs just 50 seconds to get going offensively as Sobush fired an attempt towards to the net that clipped off Smith and slid past Espanola starter Creedon Dyck
Going to power play, the Paper Kings drew level at 7:45 as Yan Bessette whipped a shot over the blocker of Greater Sudbury netminder Nathanial Boyes.
Coming right back, the visitors added another on the next shift with Atley Gringorten wheeling into the slot and firing one upstairs for his team-leading ninth tally of the campaign.
Not done there, newcomer Justin Seguin scored in his NOJHL debut as he intercepted a play at his own blueline and darted up the ice before beating Boyes to spell the end of his night in favour of back-up Noah Beaulne, before the match-up was 10 minutes old.
Getting one back before the first intermission, the home side’s Cole Crowder connected with half a minute to play, while on a man advantage, as he won a race for the puck down the left wing and proceeded to beat Dyck low, from a sharp angle.
Moving to the middle stanza, the Cubs almost drew level when Smith rang one off the post and out, but they came back moments later with Biedermann leaving a drop pass for Sobush, who snapped it into the open corner at 5:38.
Regaining the lead after that, Greater Sudbury went back on top moments into a two-man advantage as Smith blasted in a one-timer from the right circle.
Not done there, the hosts went up by a pair thanks to Cameron Walker as he moved out from behind the net and ripped a shot high over Dyck’s glove late into the second power play.
Mitchell Webb entered the Espanola net after that following a fourth-straight Cubs marker.
Another extra-skater effort for Greater Sudbury made it 6-3 thanks to Sobush who redirected a Smith cross-crease feed to extend their lead.
The Paper Kings did get one back moments later, courtesy of Jack Lynes as he chipped one past Beaulne on a mini two-on-one with Blake Peters-Davey.
However, Smith was credited with his third of the night, in the final minute of the second, after banging one in off a frenzied goal-mouth scramble.
In the final frame, play tightened up defensively in a scoreless last 20 minutes.
With the result, Beaulne picked up the win in relief as the Cubs improved to 9-2-2-0 on the year, while the Paper Kings slipped to 6-5-1-2 in defeat, with Dyck suffering the setback.
“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel
