VIDEO / GALLERY: Cubs top Thunderbirds to get back in series

Photos: Bob Davies

SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The Greater Sudbury Cubs got two goals apiece from Billy Biedermann and Pierson Sobush to send them on their way to a 5-2 win over the Soo Thunderbirds Monday in Game 3 of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League West Division final at John Rhodes Community Centre.

The triumph for the Cubs was their first in the best-of-seven affair as they now trail the series 2-1, heading in Game 4 Tuesday night back in Sault Ste. Marie, and on HockeyTV.com.

Of note, the road team has now won the first three games in the series by identical 5-2 scores.

Greater Sudbury gained the early edge by striking first in the contest as they broke out of their own zone and saw Sobush shovel a cross-ice feed across to a streaking Biedermann, who darted down the left wing and roofed one on Soo starter Landon Miller.

Countering a couple of shifts later though, the Thunderbirds tied it at 6:38 on a delayed penalty.

On the play, Jackson Truchan powered his way along the right side boards and fired a pass in front that was steered in by Justin Mauro as he was driving to the crease and put it past Cubs’ netminder Noah Metivier.

Staying even on the scoreboard until past the 11-minute mark of the middle stanza, the Soo went in front off some sustained pressure and saw Daniel Beaupre bat in a puck out of mid-air off a Youssef Chaouachi attempt and knocked it by Metivier.

Answering with an equalizer in the latter stages of the frame, Greater Sudbury’s Samuel Assinewai sent a pass ahead that sent Oliver Smith in alone on a breakaway where he made no mistake as he ripped one through Miller at 16:57.

In the third, the Cubs kept coming and went back in front on Biedermann’s second of the night as he split the defence and guided in a Matthew Mazzota feed from in close for the eventual game-winner.

Adding another at 9:24, Greater Sudbury’s Kyloe Ellis went around the net and found Sobush open in front, who finished off his chance with a quick release.

Putting the game away and securing the victory with just over six minutes to go, Sobush tacked on his second of the period by neatly redirecting in a Christopher Innes left point attempt to round out the scoring.

NOJHL West Division Final

Game 1: Thunderbirds 5 Cubs 2
Game 2: Thunderbirds 5 Cubs 2
Game 3: Cubs 5 Thunderbirds 2
Game 4: Tuesday, April 11 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)

Game 5: Thursday, April 13 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 6*: Saturday, April 15 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 7*: Tuesday, April 18 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
*-if necessary

Soo leads best-of-seven series 2-1

“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel