PHOTOS: Caleigh Fera – Sudbury Light Event Photography
SUDBURY, Ont. – A Monday afternoon Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League holiday matinee saw Cameron Walker score twice as part of a 6-2 triumph over the Powassan Voodoos at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
A busy first period saw five goals scored, including three by the host Cubs.
Matthew Mazzota began the outburst for Greater Sudbury a minute and a half into things as he powered his way to the net from the side boards before cutting around a Powassan defender and lifting a backhand past the glove of netminder Daniel Dirracolo.
The Voodoos then tied it on the power play at 4:58 when Tucker Shields spotted defenceman Alex Little going hard to the net from the left side and put a perfect pass across that was quickly fired by Cubs’ starter Noah Metivier.
On a man advantage themselves, the hosts went back in front just over six minutes later when Walker deposited a diving backhand off a Kaden Laverdiere attempt.
Greater Sudbury then went up by a pair as Graeme Siren cranked a blast from the right circle following a pad save by Dirracolo.
Getting back to within one late in the frame, Shields buried his 24th as he won a battle in front of the net and jammed a backhand by Metivier at 19:47.
Play tightened up defensively for much of the middle stanza with the lone tally of the session coming deep into it when Walker notched his second of the day as he won a race for the puck while darting down the left wing and wired one high into the top right corner for his initial multi-tally performance of the season.
Skating four aside in the back half of the third, the Cubs countered in transition from their own zone after a Powassan player lost an edge and fell, and came out on a three-on-one where Samuel Assinewai made a sharp cross-crease pass that was steered in by Nolan Newton.
They then tacked on another to put the game away thanks to Pierson Sobush, who slid in a wrap around effort while darting around the net with under eight minutes remaining in regulation to finish off the scoring.
The victory sees Greater Sudbury become the first league team to reach 40 wins on the season as they moved to 40-8-2-0 overall.
Meanwhile, with a second-straight loss, Powassan dipped to 33-13-1-0 on the campaign.
“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel
