PHOTOS : Hanna Fera – Sudbury Light Event Photography
SUDBURY, Ont. – The Greater Sudbury Cubs got a pair of highlight-reel goals from Nolan Newton to lift them to a narrow 2-1 triumph over the Soo Thunderbirds Thursday in the opener of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League West Division semifinal at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
Greater Sudbury got the icebreaker of the series seven and a half minutes into the match-up as Newton worked his way down the left wing before cutting into the middle, then dancing around a Sault Ste. Marie defender, and ripping a shot past netminder Kolton Bourret.
While the Thunderbirds carried the play for the early part of the middle stanza, it was more Newton brilliance who made it 2-0 as he powered his way up the right side, prior to working past another Soo blueliner then neatly lifting one high into the back of the net at 6:18.
Getting on the board before the second intermission, during a four-on-three man advantage, Kaden Dundas of the T-Birds sent a feed up top to Declan Gallivan who came down the slot and wired his chance by Greater Sudbury goalie Noah Metivier.
Staying 2-1 late into the third period, the Thunderbirds got Bourret out for an additional skater, but Metivier and his teammates held firm to secure the series-opening victory.
Game 2 in the best-of-seven affair goes Friday night back in Sudbury at 7:05 p.m. and online via FLOHockey.tv.
NOJHL West semifinal
Soo Thunderbirds vs. Greater Sudbury Cubs
Greater Sudbury leads best-of-seven series 1-0
Game 1: Cubs 2 Thunderbirds 1
Game 2: Friday, March 22 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 3: Monday, March 25 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 4: Tuesday, March 26 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 5*: Thursday, March 28 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 6*: Saturday, March 30 @ Soo 7 p.m. (John Rhodes Community Centre)
Game 7*: Monday, April 1 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
*-if necessary
