A couple of goals from Billy Biedermann and a goal and a couple of assists from newcomer Kaden Laverdiere propelled the Greater Sudbury Cubs to a 6-0 victory over the French River Rapids on Jan. 22.
The win improves the Cubs’ record to a league-best 33-6-2-0, which give them 68 points on the season and sees them continuing to lead the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League, ahead of the Timmins Rock and Hearst Lumberjacks.
The loss drops the Rapids’ record to 6-31-1-1.
The win also helps ensure the Cubs remain ranked by the Canadian Junior Hockey League as the seventh best club in the nation.
“Greater Sudbury got things started offensively five and a half minutes into the proceedings when Kaden Laverdiere drove down the right wing and made a nice between the legs move with the puck, then sent a backhand into the slot, that was promptly buried by Cole Crowder,” the club said in a news release.
A second-period power play saw Biedermann score his first of the game when his wrist shot zipped past the glove of Rapids’ netminder Ben Gustafson.
A few minutes later, Biedermann would score his second of the game thanks to a behind-the-net pass from Noah Kohan.
Still in the second, Greater Sudbury would score more two more goals. Carson Crane would fire a rising shot from the blueline that sailed past Gustafson. Then on the power play, Laverdiere would take a cross-ice feed from Oliver Smith to make it a 5-0 Cubs’ game.
Greater Sudbury would put a capper on it in the third thanks to Cameron Walker notching a shorthanded marker, assisted by Laverdiere.
The shutout for Cub’s netminder NOah Metivier was his third in 11 starts this season and ninth overall in 38 NOJHL appearances.
The Cubs are back in action at home on Jan. 26 against the Soo Eagles. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex. Then, Greater Sudbury hits the road to take on the Soo Thunderbirds at the John Rhodes Community Centre on Jan. 28. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
