Photos: Sudbury Light Event Photography
SUDBURY, Ont. – A two-goal performance, including notching the eventual game-winner by Jaxon Bedard, helped propel the Greater Sudbury Cubs to a 4-1 decision over the Soo Eagles Thursday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
The home town Cubs opened the scoring 6:16 into the first period as they broke up a play in their own zone and came out in numbers that allowed Seth Coulter to saucer a pass over to a hard-charging Bedard, who settled the puck down then made a quick move to his right where he lifted the disk over the pad of Sault Ste. Marie starter Gabe Rosek.
It stayed 1-0 Greater Sudbury into the middle frame, when Bedard bagged his second of the night with a one-timer off a cross-ice back hand feed from Cole Crowder at 4:33.
Some crisp puck movement while up a skater helped the hosts extend their lead later in the stanza that was completed by Phineshish Whiteduck whipping a pass over to Billy Biedermann, who stuffed in his eighth of the season.
The Eagles got themselves on the board four minutes into the third with some solid passing during a power play that was completed when Jack Mortson banged one past Cubs’ starter Joel Rainville, from close range, for his seventh marker of the season.
However, Greater Sudbury came right back and restored their three-goal lead on the next shift as Crowder collected his first NOJHL goal by wiring a shot into the right corner off a second crack from the left circle.
That proved to be the evening’s final marker as the hosts held firm the rest of the way to collect the triumph.
Coulter chipped in with a pair of assists to join Bedard and Crowder with two-point nights.
Rainville was solid making 42 saves in a winning cause for the Cubs while Rosek handled 35 of 39 in the loss.
VIDEO “Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel