The Greater Sudbury Cubs are the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League champions.
In the fifth game of the championship best-of-seven series on April 25, the Cubs defeated the Powassan Voodoos 5-3 to claim the Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy as the NOJHL champs, and now advance to the play for the Centennial Cup, to be contested May 9-19 in Oakville.
The win comes after a stellar season for the team, which saw them sitting in first or second place in the league all season. Greater Sudbury trailed the Blind River Beavers for much of the latter portion of the season, but defeated the Beavs in five games to claim the NOJHL West Division title.
Claiming the NOJHL crown on home ice at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex made the win even sweeter.
In last night’s game, the Cubs opened the scoring 10 minutes into the first period after Noah Kohan, zooming down the left wing, fed Nolan Newton in the slot, who spun and whipped a shot over the blocker of Powassan netminder Daniel Dirracolo.
That gives Newtown 12 markers in the playoffs, tying him teammate Hudson Chitaroni as the league’s leading playoff scorers.
Before the period was up, the Cubs made it 2-0. Marshall McCharles powered his way along the boards and after cutting out from behind the net, stuffed in a wraparound to extend the home side’s lead.
“The hosts picked up a double minor that allowed the Voodoos an opportunity to cut into the deficit prior to the first intermission, however Greater Sudbury goalkeeper Noah Metivier did his part to keep it 2-0 after one period of play,” the team said in a news release.
Moving onto the second period, Powassan was able to convert on the power play thanks to Tucker Shields, who grab the rebound off Reyth Smith attempt from the left point and scored on a backhand from the top of the crease.
Twenty-eight seconds later, the Voodoos tied it 2-2 after Zach Turner knocked in a loose puck off an Alexander Case shot that had hit off the shoulder of Metivier.
Still in the second, the Voodoos would take a 3-2 lead just moment later. Carson Ricci fired through a maze of bodies that managed to find its way to the back of the net.
Powassan held that 3-2 lead for 40 minutes as their netminder, Dirracolo, batted away every Cubs’ attempt, including sweeping a free puck away off the goal line with the paddle of his stick.
The lead wouldn’t last though. Greater Sudbury tied it early when Ethan Larmand’s harmless looking chance from the left circle slid through the pads of Dirracolo at 2:22.
Then with overtime looming, McCharles blazed down the left side and while driving to the net, ripped in the decider from a sharp angle in what would become the game-winning goal.
Capping off the home ice triumph, Oliver Smith scored into an empty net in the final minute for a final score of 5-3, securing the NOJHL title for the Cubs.
Metivier named playoff MVP
Besides winning the NOJHL crown on April 26, the Cubs also learned that netminder Noah Metivier was named the Playoff Most Valuable Player for 2024.
The 20-year-old Sault Ste. Marie led all league netminders in post-season victories and goals-against average at 11 and 1.89 respectively to help backstop the Cubs to the Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy championship.
His three shutouts also topped the NOJHL and he also shared a fourth with teammate Noah Beaulne.
This was the most shutouts since the 2016 postseason, when Connor Ryckman supplied six for the Soo Thunderbirds.
Metivier, who also garnered NOJHL Playoff MVP laurels in 2022, when he backstopped the Thunderbirds to the league title, only allowed 29 goals in 16 appearances, registering a .931 save percentage, which was second-best overall.
Boasting a pair of lengthy runs without giving up a goal, his efforts featured four games with 35, or more, saves, along with his 11-4 playoff record.
NOJHL Final
- Powassan Voodoos vs. Greater Sudbury Cubs
- Game 1: Voodoos 5 Cubs 2
- Game 2: Cubs 2 Voodoos 0
- Game 3: Cubs 5 Voodoos 0
- Game 4: Cubs 4 Voodoos 3 (OT)
- Game 5: Cubs 5 Voodoos 3
