NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
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A pair of power play goals and netminder Karsen Chartier’s initial Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League shutout was the difference in a narrow 2-0 Greater Sudbury Cubs victory over the Soo Eagles Thursday at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.A fast-paced start to the proceedings saw Greater Sudbury begin the scoring with a man advantage effort off the stick of Samuel Assinewai midway through the first frame.
On the tally, Assinewai corralled a pass between the circles from Nolan Newton and whipped it over the blocker of Sault Ste. Marie starter Jace Knoerle.
The tally gives him points in each of his past 22 games played, while the assist sees Newton etch his name on the game sheet for a 22nd time in a row, dating back to the 2023-24 campaign.
Carrying their lead into the second stanza, the Cubs went up by a pair with another extra-man effort when Noah Kohan skated along the goal line and roofed a shot on Knoerle at 4:40.
No further scoring in the session saw the home side take their two-tally lead into the intermission.
In the third, the Eagles had an extended power play to try and help them draw closer, but the Greater Sudbury defensive corps, and Chartier, did their part to get them back to even strength.
A shorthanded chance later on for the Soo had Cooper Fredericks come in on a two-on-one where he wired a shot off the crossbar and had it sail out of play.
They then got Knoerle out for an additional skater, but it wasn’t their night offensively as the Cubs collected their NOJHL-leading fourth shutout of the season in collecting the win.
With the outcome, the Eagles were held off the scoreboard for the first time this season.
Of note, they hadn’t been blanked since back on Oct. 28, 2023 at home, versus the same Greater Sudbury side.
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