Photos: Sudbury Light Event Photography
SUDBURY, Ont. – A Kyler Campbell goal with 5.8 seconds left in overtime was the difference as the Greater Sudbury Cubs pulled out a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Blind River Beavers Thursday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
The Cubs would also open the scoring midway through the first period, off a neutral zone turnover that allowed Greater Sudbury to go in on a two-on-one and saw Pierson Sobush fire an attempt that trickled through the pads of Blind River goaltender Gavin Disano, which allowed Sobush to bank in the night’s initial tally from the side of the net.
Answering back five minutes later, the Beavers’ Ryan Doucette notched the equalizer after teammate Ethan Elgie’s hard forecheck eventually allowed him to place a feed in front that was finished off from the top of the crease.
Heading to the middle stanza, Blind River struck shorthanded early in the session when Ethan Pegg picked off a pass and sent Dylan Hendrick in alone on a breakaway who slid his first NOJHL goal through Greater Sudbury starter Jake Marois.
Countering with another power play chance at 11:03 Carter Geoffroy was credited with his initial league tally as another friendly bounce went the Cubs’ way as his shot banked off the end boards and inadvertently clipped off Disano and slipped through his pads and slipped across the goal line with Cameron Shanks parked in front and jamming at the loose disk.
Regaining the lead seven and a half minutes into the third, the hosts saw Cameron Walker whip one on net from inside the blueline, that was stopped, but Pineshish Whiteduck grabbed the rebound and promptly snapped one in from close range.
Picking up a five-on-three man advantage in the back half of the period, Blind River converted after George Alboim ripped a shot from the right point, that was stopped by the blocker of Marois, only to see Evan Fraccaro barge his way in and stuff in his first in the NOJHL to level the proceedings with 7:15 to go in regulation.
In extra time, Greater Sudbury had a quality chance to end it early, but did not score while the Beavers’ Jesse Dupuis stole the puck off a Cubs defender and went in alone on Marois, only to be stymied while being challenged from behind.
Then late in OT, Campbell and Walker battled to secure a mini two-on-one that resulted in a quick give-and-go where Campbell popped in the game-winner into the open side and give the Cubs the win.
Shots on goal favoured Greater Sudbury by a 33-30 count with Marois getting the win while Disano’s 29 stops helped the guests pick-up a point in defeat.
