Photos: Northern Exposures Photography
MASSEY, Ont. – The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League-leading Greater Sudbury Cubs continued their winning ways Friday, skating to their 12th consecutive victory, after holding off the Elliot Lake Vikings 5-3 in a tightly contested match-up at Massey & District Community Arena.
Holding their own against the NOJHL front-runners, it was Elliot Lake who provided the night’s initial tally.
On the play, the Vikings’ Dylan Garvin picked off a pass attempt up ice then worked it to teammate Nate Dugwell, who cut in on a defender and fired a shot past Greater Sudbury goaltender Stephen Toltl at 13:09.
Tying it late in first frame, the Cubs’ Nolan Newton capitalized on the penalty shot after it was deemed by the officials that he had been obstructed on a chance, after a turnover.
On his attempt, Newton came in on the left side and made a quick move on Elliot Lake netminder Brogan Colquhoun before lifting in a short-side backhander at 18:05.
The marker gives him points in all eight games he has played this season, as well as 14 straight dating back to the 2023-24 campaign.
In the middle stanza, Greater Sudbury’s Lucas Signoretti knocked down a pass in the Vikings’ zone during a power play and proceeded to bury it from the slot for his league-best 33rd goal of the season.
The Cubs then went up 3-1 at 8:40 thanks to Samuel Assinewai, who stuffed in a rebound off a Signoretti in-close chance to extend a point streak to 14 straight outings.
After Dayden Collier brought the Vikings back to within one by jamming in a turnover generated by Michael Leech, Daks Klinkhammer answered that for Greater Sudbury at 13:37 as he had a couple of cracks on target before eventually converting.
In the final frame, Elliot Lake battled to make it a one-goal game with 12:11 to go as Yenry Jibb muscled in his six of the campaign while working against a defender at the top of the crease.
Picking up some insurance, Assinewai notched his second of the night to help secure the win and round out the scoring.
While maintaining their hot streak, the Cubs improved to 26-2-1-1 overall.
In the narrow defeat, the Vikings dropped to 6-19-1-0.
