NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
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The Greater Sudbury Cubs came back from a pair of two-goal, third period, deficits before eventually defeating the Soo Thunderbirds 5-4 in overtime Sunday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at John Rhodes Community Centre.
Greater Sudbury got going offensively early as Nolan Newton wheeled into the Sault Ste. Marie zone, and while using a defender as a screen, whipped a shot past goaltender Noah Metivier from the left circle, 37 seconds into the proceedings.
Tying it up on a power play, the Thunderbirds’ James Elliot cranked in a one-timer, after being teed up by Jake McPherson, to knot the affair at 10:56.
Retaking the lead just over six minutes into the middle frame, the Soo’s Jacob Smith drove down the left wing and from a sharp angle banked an attempt off a defender and by the Cubs’ Noah Beaulne.
A frenzied third period saw five goals scored, including three by Greater Sudbury to send it to OT.
James Legler made it 3-1 T-Birds at 8:24 as he raced in on a breakaway and buried his chance on Beaulne.
Countering quickly, the guests answered that moments later with as Daks Klinkhammer went top shelf from the left circle.
After Newton tied it two minutes later by tipping in a nice deflection by teammate Samuel Assinewai, the Soo retook the lead 14 seconds later compliments of Lucas Willoughby as he made a nice inside move on a defender and neatly picked the left hand corner with 9:10 left in regulation.
However, the visitors answered once more courtesy of an equalizer off the stick of Klinkhammer who took a Jacob Lamoureux pass on the left side and zipped a low shot by Metivier to help send it to extra time.
There, Lucas Signoretti completed the comeback for Greater Sudbury by connecting 45 seconds in off some intense pressure that led to him jamming in a rebound off a Noah Kohan chance, to end it.
The tally for Signoretti was his NOJHL-leading sixth game-winning goal of the season, three of which have come in overtime.
With the victory, the first place Cubs improve to 18-2-1-1.
With a point in defeat, the Thunderbirds dip to 10-10-1-1 overall in moving into sixth spot in the standings.
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