Cubs edge Walleye in must-win game, clinch Centennial Cup quarter-final berth

The Greater Sudbury Cubs clinched a quarter-final spot at the Centennial Cup with a 2-1 victory over the Kam River Fighting Walleye on Wednesday, thanks to a late second-period power-play goal by Lincoln Moore.

A must-win game for the Cubs

Facing elimination after a 1-2 round-robin start, the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) champions outlasted the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) titleholders in a tightly contested matinee. The Cubs will advance to Friday’s quarter-final, likely against the Melfort Mustangs of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

Strong start

Greater Sudbury dominated early, outshooting Kam River 15-3 in the first period, but Walleye goaltender Ashton Sadauskas kept the game scoreless. The Cubs broke through on a power play midway through the second when NOJHL MVP Lucas Signoretti set up Nolan Newton for a redirect. Kam River responded just over two minutes later as Easton Debray capitalized on a rebound.

Moore restored the Cubs’ lead before the intermission, converting a pass from Samuel Assinewai during a man advantage – with the goal extending Moore’s scoring streak through all four of the club’s games so far in the tournament.

A pivotal third period saw the Cubs kill off a five-minute major and three Walleye power plays.

World-class net skills on display

Goaltender Karsen Chartier made 28 saves – including all 16 shots in the final frame – to secure the win. Sadauskas stopped 24 shots for Kam River.

“Picking up player of the game honours were Assinewai of the Cubs and Kam River defenceman Brodie McLeod,” said NOJHL commissioner Robert Mazzuca, in a news release Wednesday.

13 years since NOJHL had a playoff berth

This marks the first NOJHL playoff berth at the national championship since 2012, when the Soo Thunderbirds reached the semifinals. The Cubs’ last appearance in the final was in 1991 as hosts.

“In 1991, the Sudbury Cubs hosted the event where they dropped an 8-4 decision to the Vernon Lakers in the finale,” Mazzuca said.

The Cubs’ quarter-final appearance is set for Friday at either 6 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. ET in Calary, Alta.