Photos: Sudbury Light Event Photography
SUDBURY, Ont. – A well-balanced attack saw the Greater Sudbury Cubs get goals from six different skaters to send them on their way to a 6-1 triumph over the Powassan Voodoos in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League 2022-23 season opener Thursday evening at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
Greater Sudbury came out with a purpose and notched the night’s initial tally as they kept the play in the Powassan zone where Pierson Sobush got to it behind the net and fed a backhand in front where a waiting Cameron Walker chipped it past Voodoos’ starter Kannon Flageolle three and a half minutes in.
Answering back, the visitors drew level at 9:06 of the first as Cameron Lemcke snagged a loose puck in the neutral zone then powered his way down the right wing before driving hard to the net and going cross-crease before tucking it in past the outstretched pad of Cubs’ netminder Nathaniel Boyes.
Regaining the lead late in the frame, Greater Sudbury’s Nolan Newton skated around the net on a wraparound and managed to squeeze one between the post and Flageolle’s skate and in to collect his first NOJHL goal.
Moving to the middle stanza, another highlight reel tally was provided at 11:27, as the Cubs’ Noah Kohan made a nice move around a defender before cutting towards the goal and firing a shot through the legs of the Voodoos goalkeeper for his initial league marker.
Tacking on a fourth goal of the night, Biedermann chipped one ahead over the blueline to an open Sobush, whose initial attempt was stopped, but he had time to shovel in the rebound.
That play saw Powassan opt to replace Flageolle in favour of back-up Daniel Dirracolo, with just over three minutes left in the session.
Heading to the final frame, the hosts added some insurance at 4:24, during a delayed penalty, when Graeme Siren whipped a high shot from the right point that sailed into the top left hand corner.
Capping off the night’s scoring, Greater Sudbury rookie Matthew Mazzota wheeled out of the corner in the late going and cruised to the top of the right circle and ripped a shot through maze.
Collecting the victory in his NOJHL debut was Boyes, while Flagoelle suffered the defeat in nearly 37 minutes of work.
The Cubs are right back at it Friday as they host the Hearst Lumberjacks at 7:05 p.m. while the Voodoos will entertain the Cochrane Crunch at 7 p.m. in their home opener at the Powassan Sportsplex.
Highlight of the Night – NOJHL YouTube Channel
