Photos: Caleigh Fera – Points North Media
SUDBURY, Ont. – Daks Klinkhammer’s first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League goal, coming late in regulation, lifted the Greater Sudbury Cubs to a narrow 3-2 triumph over the Soo Thunderbirds Thursday at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
Greater Sudbury took the lead 4:20 into the contest with Cameron Shanks getting the last touch for the home side off a goal-mouth scramble, that got past Sault Ste. Marie starter Noah Metivier.
The marker for Shanks was his eighth of the season and the 50th of his NOJHL career.
Samuel Assinewai then joined Shanks in the 50-tally club, as he stuffed in a wrap around, early in the middle frame, to put the Cubs up by a pair, with his 13th of the campaign.
Getting one back late in the second period, the Thunderbirds’ Jacob Smith chased down a loose puck in the Greater Sudbury zone and sent a back hand from just below the goal line in front that clipped off the skate of a defender and slid by netminder Noah Beaulne.
The tally gives Smith goals in three of his past four contests.
Moving to the third, the Soo drew level moments into a man advantage as James Legler corralled a bouncing puck in the slot, off a Callum McAuley set-up from the corner, and fired it in to knot the affair at 8:50.
Regaining the lead deep in regulation, Klinkhammer used some solid work along the side boards, then used a give-and-go with Assinewai to snap in the game-winner from the top of the crease.
The T-Birds got Metivier out in the final minute in an effort to tie it and send it to overtime, however the hosts held firm to secure the home ice victory.
With the outcome, the Cubs raise their record to a league-best 17-2-1-1 while the narrow setbacks sees the Thunderbirds slip to 10-9-1-0.
