Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos

The Greater Sudbury Cubs continued their offensive surge in Game Two of the NOJHL semi-final, defeating the Soo Eagles 9–6 in a high-scoring affair Friday, April 3rd in Walden, Ontario. With the victory, the Cubs take a commanding 2–0 lead in the best-of-seven series after also claiming Game One 24 hours earlier.

The Eagles struck first in the opening period as Logan Stawizynski opened the scoring at 10:14 with his fifth of the postseason, finishing a setup from Anden Marceau. The Cubs responded late in the frame during four-on-four action, with Mason Walker netting his third of the playoffs at 17:10, assisted by Nate Lazarus and Cole Wreggitt to tie the game 1–1 heading into the second.

The second period turned into a special teams showcase and an offensive explosion. Sudbury took a 2–1 lead at 7:00 on their fourth power play of the game, as Walker struck again—his second of the night—off passes from Briir Long and Eidan Macartney. Just 59 seconds later, the Eagles answered on an extended seven-minute power play, as Stawizynski scored his second of the game and sixth of the postseason at 7:59, assisted by Marceau and Samuel Gold.

Still on the man advantage, Soo regained the lead at 10:37 when Marceau scored his third of the playoffs—his third point of the game—set up by Colton Huckson and Stawizynski. The Eagles extended their lead to 4–2 at 13:48 on a five-on-three power play, with Stawizynski completing his hat trick and fourth point of the night, assisted by Jacob Peterson and Marceau, who picked up his fourth point of the contest.

Sudbury stormed back late in the period, beginning with Owen King’s third of the postseason at 16:48, assisted by Jacob Signoretti and Grant Booth to make it 4–3. Just 15 seconds later, Walker completed his hat trick at 17:03, scoring his fifth of the playoffs with help from Briir Long and Daks Klinkhammer, tying the game 4–4 after two periods.

The Cubs wasted no time taking control in the third, as Walker scored his fourth goal of the game just 1:27 in—his sixth of the postseason—unassisted to give Sudbury a 5–4 lead. The Eagles responded quickly, with Lucas Caufield tying the game 5–5 at 1:47, assisted by Alex Povorozniouk.

Sudbury regained the lead on the power play at 2:20, as Alex Valade scored his second of the postseason off passes from Walker and Long. The Cubs then pulled away with three more goals in quick succession. Valade added his second of the game at 5:39, assisted by Klinkhammer and Spencer Horgan, making it 7–5. Walker followed with his fifth goal of the night at 6:27—his seventh of the playoffs—assisted by Long and Horgan to extend the lead to 8–5.

The Eagles showed some life at 7:33 when Samuel Gold scored his second of the postseason in highlight-reel fashion, finishing a Michigan-style goal unassisted to cut the deficit to 8–6. However, the Cubs sealed the victory late, as Caden Dubreuil scored shorthanded into the empty net at 18:07, assisted by Kaedyn Long and Valade, to secure the 9–6 final.

In goal, Jace Knoerle started for the Eagles, turning aside 21 of 28 shots over 45 minutes and 39 seconds before being replaced by Dalton Hoornstra, who made six saves on seven shots in 12 minutes and 59 seconds of relief. Cubs netminder Iain Wintle backstopped the win for Sudbury.

Soo coach Jeremy Rebek told Saultsports that ”

With the series now 2–0 in favor of Sudbury, the action shifts to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan for Game Three on Monday, April 6th, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m. as the Eagles look to get back into the series on home ice.