Caleigh Fera – Sudbury Light Event Photography
SUDBURY, Ont. – Recently acquired Greater Sudbury Cubs goaltender Noah Metivier handled every attempt he faced Thursday night in his return to the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League in backstopping his new club to a 2-0 triumph over the Cochrane Crunch Thursday at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
Last season’s NOJHL MVP and 1st Team All-Star in net, Metivier is back in the NOJHL after spending last season with the defending league champion Soo Thunderbirds.
A late extended power play helped the Cubs open the scoring when Samuel Assinewai connected at 17:25 of the first period as he drove down the left side from the point and put an attempt in front that clipped off a Cochrane defender and slid past Crunch netminder Jake Dubinsky.
Action in the second stanza saw the home side extend their lead midway through the proceedings after a defender lost an edge and fell which allowed Miguel Renaud to put a shot on net that was stopped, but as Aiden Landers was right there to scoop up the rebound and make a move to his right and tuck one into the open corner for his second tally, in as many games.
The solid efforts of each netminder kept any further goals being provided the rest of the way to complete the low-scoring affair.
Metivier, who shared the NOJHL-lead in shutouts last season with six, picked up where he left off in blanking the Crunch in this one.
A late power play and having their goalkeeper out for an extra attacker, the guests tried one final time to get on the board, however, the Cubs held firm to secure their NOJHL-best 20th win of the season.
Despite the narrow defeat, Dubinsky turned in an impressive effort for Cochrane in keeping his club in it throughout.
“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel
