Cubs Host Eagles on Samsung Sound Tower Giveaway Night

Sault Ste. Marie, ON – The Greater Sudbury Cubs look to get back into the win column tonight as they take on the Soo Eagles for the fourth time this season. This, their 21st home game of the season is Samsung Sound Tower Giveaway Night hosted by Bianco’s Supercentre – The official supplier of audio and video equipment to the Sudbury Cubs.

Greater Sudbury split back-to-back, home-at-home games with the Soo Thunderbirds last week, securing a narrow 4-3 win at home before suffering a 3-2 loss on the road the following night – the third one-goal game between the teams this season. With the split, Sudbury moved up two spots to 13^th in the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top 20 Rankings – Fueled by Gatorade and remain tied with the Blind River Beavers for most points in the NOJHL (64). The Cubs continue to lead the league in Goals For (197) and are third in the league in Goals Against (117). The Cubs enter tonight with a home-record of 16-2-1-1 and remain 7-1-1-1 in their last 10 games.

The Eagles come into the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex winners of three of their last four games, their latest being a 5-1 win over Blind River that ended the Beavers 17-game winning streak. However, in their last 10 games, the Soo are 4-5-1-0.

Previous meetings

Sudbury holds a 3-0-0-0 record this season over the Michigan team. The Eagles have historically struggled against the Cubs, entering tonight with a record of 6-13-0-2 against Sudbury over the last five seasons. In their previous meeting on December 15, 2023, the Cubs came back from a 2-0 deficit in the first period and scored four unanswered goals from Josh Kavanagh, Ben Lacroix, Cameron Shanks, and Oliver Smith, holding on for a 
4-3 road victory.

Player to watch (Sudbury)

Nolan Newton (06-F) – The 17-year-old is two days shy of his 18th birthday and will look to do so in style, building upon his already impressive six points (2 G, 4 A – 6 Pts) in two games against the Eagles this season. The forward has one goal in two games since rejoining the Cubs on Jan. 10 after departing to sign with the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts earlier this season.

Player to watch (Sault Ste. Marie, MI)

Jack Paweski (04-F) – Coming into tonight on a three-game point streak with three goals and three assists in that span, the second year NOJHL forward has 85 points (27 G, 58 A – 85 Pts) in 95 career games and is averaging just under 1.5 points per game this season.

BEAR FACTS

LEADING SCORERS – SUDBURY

1. Oliver Smith (03-F) – 41 GP – 30 G – 40 A – 70 Pts [3 PPG – 13 PPA – 1 SHA – 5 GWG]
2. * Hudson Chitaroni (07-F) – 38 GP – 23 G – 27 A – 50 Pts [7 PPG – 7 PPA – 1 SHA – 2 GWG]
3. Samuel Assinewai (04-F) – 27 GP – 17 G – 28 A – 45 Pts [3 PPG – 5 PPA – 1 GWG]
4. Nolan Newton (06-F) – 19 GP – 20 G – 20 A – 40 Pts [7 PPG – 4 PPA – 4 GWG]
5. Cameron Shanks (04-F) – 39 GP – 10 G – 21 A – 31 Pts [1 PPA – 1 SHG – 1 SHA – 2 GWG]

* rookie

LEADING SCORERS – SAULT STE. MARIE, MI

1. Jack Paweski (04-F) – 38 GP – 15 G – 38 A – 53 Pts [2 PPG – 10 PPA – 1 SHG – 2 SHA – 4 GWG]
2. * Benjamin Pouliot (04-F) – 38 GP – 18 G – 26 A – 44 Pts [5 PPG – 8 PPA – 2 SHG – 5 GWG]
3. Kenny Belanger Jr. (04-F) – 34 GP – 22 G – 21 A – 43 Pts [7 PPG – 5 PPA – 1 SHG – 2 SHA – 2 GWG]
4. Coby Fox (03-D) – 36 GP – 5 G – 24 A – 29 Pts [3 PPG – 6 PPA – 1 SHA]
5. Darby McCarthy (03-F) – 37 GP – 10 G – 14 A – 24 Pts [1 PPG – 2 PPA – 1 GWG]

* rookie

LAST FIVE GAMES – SUDBURY

1. 3-2 L @ Soo Thunderbirds (19-01-24)
2. 4-3 W vs Soo Thunderbirds (18-01-24)
3. 3-1 W @ French River (14-01-24)
4. 5-3 W vs Powassan (11-01-24)
5. 7-5 W @ Powassan (06-01-24)

LAST FIVE GAMES – SAULT STE. MARIE, MI

1. 5-1 W vs Blind River (20-01-24)
2. 6-1 W vs Elliot Late (19-01-24)
3. 3-2 W @ Soo Thunderbirds (13-01-24)
4. 5-3 L vs Espanola (12-01-24)
5. 5-1 L @ Blind River (06-01-24)

GOALIE STATS – SUDBURY

1. Noah Beaulne (04-G) – 16 GP – 11 W – 3 L – 1 OTL – 2.60 GAA – 0.909 SV%
2. Noah Metivier (04-G) – 29 GP – 20 W – 5 L – 1 SOL – 2 SO – 2.86 GAA – 0.915 SV%
3. Matthew Vahramian (06-G) – 18 GP – 3 W – 11 L – 2 SOL – 4.70 GAA – 0.885 SV%

GOALIE STATS – SAULT STE. MARIE, MI

1. * Anthony Zolezzi (06-G) – 23 GP – 12 W – 7 L – 1 SOL – 3.09 GAA – 0.900 SV%
2. Marino Ramirez (03-G) – 21 GP – 11 W – 8 L – 1 OTL – 3.51 GAA – 0.892 SV%
3. * Michael Shelley (05-G) – 2 GP – 0 W – 0 L – 0.00 GAA – 1.00 SV%

* rookie

POINT STREAKS OR RECORDS – SUDBURY

1. Hudson Chitaroni (07-F) – The rookie forward has reached the 50-point mark with 23 goals and 27 assists through 38 games played this season and has 13-points (6 G, 7 A – 13 Pts) in his last 10 games coming into tonight.

• Ben Lacroix (03-F) – With goals in three straight games, the 20-year-old will look to extend his goal-scoring streak tonight. The Sudbury, ON, native has 26 points (14 G, 12 A – 26 Pts) in 41 games played this season.

• Chris Innes (03-D) – The resurgence of the 20-year-old has been a delight for Coach Moxam and with eight assists in his last 10 games, the defenceman is looking to stay red hot on the Cubs’ back-end.

POINT STREAKS OR RECORDS – SAULT STE. MARIE, MI

1. Nolan Hendry (05-F) – The Milton, ON, native comes into tonight on a three-game point streak with one goal and four assists in that span. The 18-year-old has nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points through 26 games played this season.

• Tyler Fortson (06-F) – The rookie has two goals and three assists in his last five games but was held scoreless in the Eagles’ 4-3 loss to the Cubs on Dec. 15.

• Benjamin Pouliot (04-F) – The Howell, MI, product comes into tonight with one goal and three assists in his last two games.