GALLERY: Cubs collect road win over Paper Kings

ESPANOLA, Ont. – A pair of Marshall McCharles’ markers helped send the Greater Sudbury Cubs on their way to a 6-2 decision over the Espanola Paper Kings in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Saturday at the Regional Recreation Complex.

Espanola did strike first in the match-up when Will Bishop put one towards the net from the right point that looked to hit off a Greater Sudbury defenceman and move the other way by Cubs’ starter Noah Metivier.

Tying it moments after a power play then were on had expired, McCharles stuffed in a close-range chance between the post and pad of Paper Kings goalkeeper Jake Marois at 7:41.

On a two-man advantage to begin the second period, Greater Sudbury’s Samuel Assinewai capitalized by steering in a pass sent in by Oliver Smith.

That now gives Assinewai points in each of his past 11 games played.

After that, the Cubs’ McCharles added his second of the evening by neatly tipping in a Cole Quevillon shot from just inside the blueline.

Not done there, the visitors kept coming and saw Pierson Sobush supply his NOJHL-leading 28th tally of the campaign with an extra-man effort as he one-timed a shot that squeezed through Marois while parked to the left side just outside of the crease at 7:21.

With the marker, Sobush is now riding a 10-game point streak.

Getting one back, while up a skater themselves midway through the contest, Espanola’s Lucas Signoretti whipped in a feed across from Kyle den Ouden that flew by Metivier for his team-best 15th.

Going back up by three after 40 minutes, Greater Sudbury’s Cameron Shanks ripped one upstairs from the left circle to give him 10 goals in 2022-23.

Action in the final frame saw the visitors put the game away at 12:32 with Cole Crowder finishing off a flurry of chances his club had during a frenzied goal-mouth scramble.

The win sees the league-leading Cubs improve to 29-5-2-0 on the season while the Paper Kings fell to 16-14-2-2 in defeat.

MAKE-UP GAME: The NOJHL has finalized the make-up date for the Cubs – Powassan Voodoos contest that was postponed back on December 22.

This match-up will now be held on Monday, February 20 and features a 2:30 p.m. start at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury and on HockeyTV.com.