Sudbury, Ont. — The Sudbury Cubs return home tonight to take on the Blind River Beavers after finishing an extended road trip with a dominant 6-2 win over the Powassan Voodoos on Wednesday night.

The team is coming off an impressive stretch of away games that saw them play four games in six nights and winning four of their last five games, including an overtime winner in Hearst on Nov. 3, and a shootout win in Iroquois Falls the night after. Thursday against Blind River will be the Cubs’ fifth game in seven nights and their eighth back-to-back of the season.

Blind River comes to the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex sitting fifth in the Western Conference and are separated by six points from the first place Cubs. The Beavers are 5-5 on the road this season and haven’t played since Sunday, Nov. 5, when they beat the Elliot Lake Vikings 7-3 on home ice.

Previous meetings

The last time these two teams faced off was last season when the Cubs beat the Beavers 2-1 on March 2, splitting the regular season series two games apiece. Sudbury native Pierson Sobush – now playing for the Corpus Christi IceRays (NAHL) – scored both Cubs’ goals that game while defenceman Owen Arnold scored the lone goal for the Beavers.

Sudbury has matched up well against Blind River over the last five seasons and boast a 14-7-1-0 record to prove it. Entering Thursday however, the Beavers are winners of three of their last four games and have outscored their opponents 21-8 in that span.

Player to watch (Sudbury)

HUDSON CHITARONI – The 16-year-old-rookie picked up an assist in the Cubs 6-2 win over the Powassan Voodoos on Wednesday night, scoring his 30th point (13-17-30) in his 21st game of the season. The Sault Ste. Marie native is currently on a six-game point streak with three goals and six assists in that span and is second in team scoring.

Player to watch (Blind River)

JESSE DUPUIS – The 20-year-old forward has been on fire since being reacquired by the Beavers on Oct. 25, scoring six points in four games. He is currently third in team scoring with 23 points (12-11-23) after an impressive 17 points in 17 games with the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners before being traded.

ANDREWS ANALYSIS BEAR FACTS gAME NOTeS 2

“BEAR FACTS” GAME NOTES

LEADING SCORERS – CUBS

* rookie

  1. Oliver Smith – F – 22 GP – 16 G – 22 A – 38 P – 2 PPG – 9 PPA – 1 SHA – 3 GWG
  2. * Hudson Chitaroni – F – 21 GP – 13 G – 17 A – 30 P – 3 PPG – 5 PPA – 2 GWG
  3. Cameron Shanks – F – 20 GP – 7 G – 16 A – 23 P – 1 PPA – 1 SHG – 1 SHA – 2 GWG
  4. Cameron Walker – F – 21 GP – 9 G – 9 A – 18 P – 3 PPG – 5 PPA – 1 SHG
  5. Marshall McCharles – F – 17 GP – 8 G – 8 A – 18 P – 4 PPG – 1 PPA – 1 SHG
  6. Chris Innes – D – 18 GP – 3 G – 15 A – 18 P – 6 PPA – 1 SHA
  7. * Hudson Martin – D – 22 GP – 3 G – 10 A – 13 P – 1 PPG – 3 PPA

LEADING SCORERS – BEAVERS

  1. Andrey Manov – D – 21 GP – 5 G – 24 A – 29 P – 3 PPG – 5 PPA – 2 SHG – 1 SHA – 1 GWG
  2. Jakob Kovacs – F – 21 GP – 18 G – 9 A – 27 P – 4 PPG – 2 PPA – 4 SHG – 1 GWG
  3. Jesse Dupuis – F – 21 GP – 12 G – 11 A – 23 P – 4 PPG – 3 PPA
  4. Michael Gallagher – F – 21 GP – 12 G – 9 A – 21 P – 1 PPG – 3 PPA – 3 GWG
  5. Josh Thompson – F – 16 GP – 8 G – 13 A – 21 P – 5 PPG – 4 PPA – 2 GWG
  6. Evan Fraccaro – F – 21 GP – 7 G – 12 A – 19 P – 1 PPA

LAST FIVE GAMES – CUBS

  1. 6-2 W @ Powassan (08-11-2023)
  2. 7-2 L @ Timmins (05-11-2023)
  3. 2-1 W @ Iroquois Falls (04-11-2023)
  4. 4-3 W (OT) @ Hearst Lumberjacks (03-11-2023)
  5. 6-0 W @ Soo Eagles (28-10-2023)

LAST FIVE GAMES – BEAVERS

  1. 7-3 W v. Elliot Lake (05-11-2023)
  2. 2-0 L @ Soo Thunderbirds (03-11-2023)
  3. 8-0 W @ Elliot Lake (29-10-2023)
  4. 6-3 W @ Espanola (28-10-2023)
  5. 5-2 L @ Soo Thunderbirds (22-10-2023)
Cubs players search for the puck against the Hearst Lumberjacks on Nov. 3, 2023. (Sudbury Cubs Media)
Greater Sudbury Cubs players search for the puck against the Hearst Lumberjacks on Nov. 3, 2023. (Sudbury Cubs Media)

GOALIE STATS – CUBS

  1. Noah Metivier – 14 GP – 11 W – 3 L – 2.49 GAA – 0.922 SV% – 1 SO
  2. Noah Beaulne – 9 GP – 6 W – 2 L – 2.84 GAA – 0.910 SV%

GOALIE STATS – BEAVERS

  1. Noah Tegelaar – 8 GP – 7 W – 1 L – 1.75 GAA – 0.925 SV% – 2 SO
  2. Iain White – 9 GP – 4 W – 5 L – 2.69 GAA – 0.898 SV% – 1 SO

POINT STREAKS OR RECORDS – CUBS

  1. Marshall McCharles is two points away from his 50th NOJHL point (23-25-48)
  2. Samuel Assinewai is two points away from his 60th NOJHL point (21-37-58)
  3. Oliver Smith has 10 points (4-6-10) in his last five games.

POINT STREAKS OR RECORDS – BEAVERS

  1. Jakob Kovacs is seven points away from his 150th NOJHL point (69-74-143)
  2. Andrey Manov enters the game with seven points in his last five games.
  3. Clark Furman has 13 points and has recorded a point in all but two games the rookie forward has played in.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS – CUBS

  1. Oct. 17, 2023 – Greater Sudbury Cubs acquire Mason Chitaroni (04-D) from Truro Bearcats (MHL) for Aiden Tucker (05-F) and Player Development Fee.
  2. Oct. 17, 2023 – Greater Sudbury Cubs acquire Aiden Tucker (05-F) from West Kent Steamers (MHL) for Player Development Fee.
  3. Oct. 17, 2023 – Greater Sudbury Cubs acquire Josh Kavanagh (03-D) from Espanola Paper Kings for Aaron Craven (03-D) and Player Development Fee.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS – BEAVERS

  1. Nov. 01, 2023 – Blind River Beavers acquire Matthew Whelton (05-D) from Wellington Dukes (OJHL) for Player Development Fee. 
  2. Nov. 01, 2023 – Blind River Beavers transfer Bryce Burnett (04-F) to Kerry Park Islanders (VIJHL) for Player Development Fee. 
  3. Oct. 27, 2023 – Blind River Beavers transfer Anthony Kalo (05-D) to Caledon Admirals for Matthew Campanella (06-F) and Player Development Fee. 
  4. Oct. 25, 2023 – Blind River Beavers acquire Jesse Dupuis (03-F) from Kirkland Lake Gold Miners for Player Development Fee.
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