The Greater Sudbury Cubs took one back in their playoff series against the Soo Thunderbirds.
Down two games in the finals of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s West Division, Cubs forwards Billy Biedermann and Pierson Sobush potted two apeice and leading Greater Sudbury to a 5-2 win over the Thunderbirds on Monday night. Game 3 of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League West Division final was played at John Rhodes Community Centre.
The best-pf-seven series is now 2-1 for the Birds.
“Greater Sudbury gained the early edge by striking first in the contest as they broke out of their own zone and saw Sobush shovel a cross-ice feed across to a streaking Biedermann, who darted down the left wing and roofed one on Soo starter Landon Miller,” a news release states.
On a delayed penalty, the Thunderbirds tied it up at 6:38 of the first.
Staying even on the scoreboard until past the 11-minute mark of the middle stanza, the Soo went in front off some sustained pressure and saw Daniel Beaupre bat in a puck out of mid-air off a Youssef Chaouachi attempt and knocked it by Metivier.
Answering with an equalizer in the latter stages of the frame, Greater Sudbury’s Samuel Assinewai sent a pass ahead that sent Oliver Smith in alone on a breakaway where he made no mistake as he ripped one through Miller at 16:57.
In the third, the Cubs kept coming and went back in front on Biedermann’s second of the night as he split the defence and guided in a Matthew Mazzota feed from in close for the eventual game-winner.
Greater Sudbury’s Kyloe Ellis sent the puck from behind the net to Sobush open in front, who quickly chipped it in to make it 4-2 for the Cubs. With just over six minutes left in the match, Sobush would add another goal by redirecting a Christopher Innes shot from the point to make it 5-2 for the Cubs.
NOJHL West Division Final
- Game 1: Thunderbirds 5 Cubs 2
- Game 2: Thunderbirds 5 Cubs 2
- Game 3: Cubs 5 Thunderbirds 2
- Game 4: Tuesday, April 11 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
- Game 5: Thursday, April 13 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
- Game 6*: Saturday, April 15 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
- Game 7*: Tuesday, April 18 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
*-if necessary
