Photos: Caleigh Fera – Points North Media
SUDBURY, Ont. – A couple of Tannen Iserhoff tallies, including the eventual game-winner, helped the Greater Sudbury Cubs secure a close 4-3 result over the Blind River Beavers Thursday night in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
Surging Greater Sudbury got off to a good start as Deven Jones-McDonald made a nice rush into the Blind River end and while driving hard to the net banked a shot past netminder Bronx Bodnar, just over two minutes into the match-up.
The Cubs then went up by a pair at 15:21 as Cameron Shanks took a Jacob Lamoureux pass and pumped it short side by Bodnar.
The Beavers cut into the deficit early in the second stanza as Ryder Hill came out from below the goal line and roofed a close-range attempt over the shoulder of Greater Sudbury goalkeeper Noah Beaulne.
Getting that back midway through the contest, the Cubs’ Iserhoff jammed in a chance during a frenzied scramble in the crease with multiple players on both sides battling in front.
Pulling closer once more Rylan Gibbs collected his initial NOJHL goal as he came down the left side and while using a defender as a screen whipped a shot upstairs.
Heading to the third period, Iserhoff added another as he chipped a play ahead out of his own zone and opted to shoot on a two-on-one and sent a sizzler up high to make it 4-2 at 3:28.
Getting their goalie out for an additional skater heading into a late power play, Blind River got back to within one with three minutes to go as A.J. Saadeh swept one in from in close.
With Bodnar out again, the Beavers pressed hard to tie it and send it to overtime, but despite a late man advantage in the final seconds, the hosts held on to secure the victory and extend their winning streak to 11 consecutive contests.
The triumph also sees the first place Cubs improve to 12-1-1-1 overall while the narrow setback has the Beavers dropping to 10-5-1-0.
