PHOTOS : Caleigh Fera – Sudbury Light Event Photography
SUDBURY, Ont. – A Marshall McCharles marker, 3:50 into the third period, proved to be the game-winner as the Greater Sudbury Cubs went on to blank the Powassan Voodoos 2-0 Friday in Game 2 of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League championship series, at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
With the outcome, the best-of-seven affair is now tied 1-1 heading to Game 3 Sunday afternoon, which features a 2 p.m. start at the Powassan Sportsplex and on FLOHockey.tv.
Greater Sudbury pressed the pace in the first frame, holding an edge in shots on goal along the way, but could not solve Powassan netminder Daniel Dirracolo, who along with the Cubs’ Noah Metivier, kept it scoreless after 20 minutes.
Heading to the second stanza, it was a tighter-checking session, that did not produce the evening’s initial marker.
An interesting development to begin the third, saw back-up Noah Beaulne commence the period in net for Greater Sudbury, in place of Metivier.
The Cubs eventually broke the deadlock when Hudson Chitaroni spun in the corner then while driving below the goal line, flipped a backhand in front that was quickly whipped in by McCharles.
Staying low-scoring late into regulation, the Voodoos pulled Dirracolo for an extra attacker in an effort to tie it and force overtime.
Some solid pressure by the visitors generated a number of chances to equalize, but they could not solve Beaulne, before Chitaroni iced it with a long-range empty netter, from his own zone, to secure the result with just over 11 seconds remaining.
In the end, Beaulne shares his first playoff shutout with Metivier, to send the series to Powassan knotted at a win apiece.
The NOJHL winner will advance to the Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, Canadian National Junior A Championship, May 9-19, in Oakville, Ont.
NOJHL Final
Powassan Voodoos vs. Greater Sudbury Cubs
Best-of-seven series tied 1-1
Game 1: Voodoos 5 Cubs 2
Game 2: Cubs 2 Voodoos 0
Game 3: Sunday, April 21 @ Powassan 2 p.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
Game 4: Monday, April 22 @ Powassan 7 p.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
Game 5: Thursday, April 25 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 6*: Sunday, April 28 @ Powassan 2 p.m. (Powassan Sportsplex)
Game 7*: Tuesday, April 30 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
*-if necessary
