With thirteen points separating the first place (16-2-1-1) Sudbury Cubs and the six place (10-8-1) Soo Thunderbirds, the Cubs took to the ice at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex to face the Thunderbirds in NOJHL action on Thursday, November 14th. In their last meeting on September 12th, the Thunderbirds and Cubs battled to a 4 – 4 tie.

4:20 into the opening period, Cameron Shanks finds the back of Thunderbird netminder Noah Metivier’s net for his eighth of the season and 50th career NOJHL goal to give the Cubs a 1 – 0 lead. Nolan Kohan and Nolan Newton drew the assists on Shanks goal. Sinking his 50th of his NOJHL career and 13th of the 2024 – 2025 season, Samuel Assinewai wraps the puck around the left post from behind the net to score Sudbury’s second of the game at 2:26 of the second period to bring the Cubs lead to 2 – 0. Daks Klinkhammer and Alexandre Valade notched the contributors on Assinewai’s goal. Thunderbird veteran forward Jacob Smith fires the visitors first of the game unassisted over Sudbury goaltender Noah Beaulne’s catcher from the left faceoff circle to pull to the Soo within one at 17:58 of the middle stanza. At 8:50 of the third and on their fifth powerplay of the game, James Legler fires his fifth of the season from the top of the right faceoff circle, the Thunderbird veteran forward finds the back of the Cubs net through Beaulne’s five hole to even the game 2 – 2 for the Soo. Nolan Nemecek and Jacob Smith register the helpers on Legler’s power play goal. With 3:04 remaining in Thursday’s contest and Assinewai behind the goal line to the left of the Thunderbird net, Daks Klinkhammer catches a pass in front of the Soo’s crease to slide the game winner past Metivier to give the Cubs their ninth straight win at home. Lucas Signoretti added the other assist on Klinkhammer’s first career NOJHL goal. Sudbury goaltender Noah Beaulne turned away 16 of 18 shots in the Cubs 3 – 2 win while Thunderbird netminder Noah Metivier stopped 34 of 37 shots in the Soo’s ninth loss of the season.

The Thunderbirds are back on the road when they head to Blind River to take on the Beavers for a Saturday, November 16th matchup at 7:00 p.m while the Cubs come to Sault Ste Marie for a Sunday, November 17th matinee with a 2:00 p.m puck drop at the John Rhodes Centre.