Cubs host Vikings on Technica Mining night

Sudbury, ON – The Greater Sudbury Cubs welcome the Elliot Lake Vikings at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex for just the second time this season on Technica Mining Night, sponsored by Technica Mining. The Cubs, who currently sit second in the West division with 79 points, clinched a playoff spot during their three-game stretch last week while the Vikings remain last in the division and in the league with only 15-points through 48 games played this season.

Greater Sudbury, with a 5-4 regulation win on Sunday to the Espanola Paper Kings, snapped their first three-game losing streak of the season and now look to pick up their second win in-a-row and build upon the team’s impressive home record of 19-4-1-2, good for third home record in the league. With a 1-1-1 record over their last three games, Sudbury has dropped to 15th in the CJHL Top 20 Rankings – Fuelled by Gatorade but remain second in the West Division with 79 points. The Cubs remain second in Goals For (241), third in the league in Goals Against (151) and enter tonight 6-3-0-1 in their last 10 games.

Elliot Lake come into the Countryside Sports Complex 0-10-0-0 in their last 10 games and on a 24-game losing streak of 0-23-0-1, their worst losing streak of the season. Their last win came on December 1st against the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners where the Vikings were 6-3 victors. Forwards Owen Kahl (06-F) and Gavin McLenaghan (05-F) each had two goals and two assists in the game.

Previous meetings

Sudbury has historically been the favourite in matchups against the Vikings with a 19-3-0-0 record against them over the last five seasons. However, Elliot Lake were victorious in their previous matchup against the Cubs on October 20th holding onto a 3-2 regulation win despite being outshot 50-24. In their first matchup of the season on September 28th, it was Sudbury that came up with a 5-2 regulation win courtesy of a two-goal performance by forward Oliver Smith (03-F) and three-point games from forwards Nolan Newton (06-F) and Cameron Shanks (04-F).

Player to watch (Sudbury)

Chris Innes (03-D) – The 20-year-old has five assists in his last eight games and has eclipsed last season’s point total of 26 with his three goals and 28 assists for 31 points through 35 games this season. That production puts the defenceman second in scoring amongst team D-men, 11th in league scoring amongst defencemen, and is averaging 0.89 points-per-game this season.

Player to watch (Elliot Lake)

Anthony Bertrand (07-F) – The rookie has goals in back-to-back games for the first time this season and three goals in his last four games. With five points in his last four games (3 G, 2 A – 5 Pts), the Hanmer, ON, native now has six goals and 13 assists for 19 points through 42 games played this season.

BEAR FACTS

LEADING SCORERS – SUDBURY

1. Oliver Smith (03-F) – 52 GP – 37 G – 51 A – 88 Pts [6 PPG – 17 PPA – 1 SHG – 1 SHA – 6 GWG]
2. ^* Hudson Chitaroni (07-F) – 49 GP – 27 G – 38 A – 65 Pts [8 PPG – 13 PPA – 1 SHA – 3 GWG]
3. Nolan Newton (06-F) – 26 GP – 24 G – 25 A – 49 Pts [10 PPG – 5 PPA – 4 GWG]
4. Samuel Assinewai (04-F) – 30 GP – 18 G – 30 A – 48 Pts [4 PPG – 5 PPA – 1 GWG]
5. Cameron Shanks (04-F) – 50 GP – 14 G – 23 A – 37 Pts [1 PPA – 2 SHG – 1 SHA – 3 GWG]

* rookie

LEADING SCORERS – ELLIOT LAKE

1. ^* Gavin McLenaghan (05-F) – 48 GP – 19 G – 18 A – 37 Pts [2 PPG – 5 PPA – 2 SHG – 1 SHA]
2. ^X Noah Aboflan (05-F) – 29 GP – 16 G – 15 A – 31 Pts [2 PPG – 2 PPA – 4 SHG – 1 SHA – 2 GWG]
3. ^* Nathan Marincola (06-F) – 48 GP – 11 G – 16 A – 27 Pts [4 PPA]
4. ^* Max Ciesielski (04-F) – 42 GP – 7 G – 12 A – 19 Pts [2 PPG – 4 PPA – 1 SHA]
5. ^* Anthony Bertrand (07-F) – 42 GP – 6 G – 13 A – 19 Pts [3 PPG – 2 PPA – 1 GWG]

* rookie | X inactive

LAST FIVE GAMES – SUDBURY

1. 5-4 W @ Espanola (25-02-24)
2. 4-3 L vs Blind River (22-02-24)
3. 3-2 SOL vs Powassan (19-02-24)
4. 5-0 L @ Blind River (17-02-24)
5. 7-1 W vs French River (15-02-24)

LAST FIVE GAMES – ELLIOT LAKE

1. 9-2 L vs Soo Eagles (27-02-24)
2. 8-5 L @ Blind River (24-02-24)
3. 11-0 L vs Espanola (23-02-24)
4. 11-1 @ Soo Eagles (17-02-24)
5. 17-0 L vs Soo Thunderbirds (16-02-24)

GOALIE STATS – SUDBURY

1. Noah Beaulne (04-G) – 23 GP – 16 W – 3 L – 1 OTL – 1 SOL – 2.47 GAA – 0.918 SV%
2. Noah Metivier (04-G) – 34 GP – 22 W – 8 L – 1 SOL – 2 SO – 2.92 GAA – 0.913 SV%
3. Matthew Vahramian (06-G) – 19 GP – 3 W – 11 L – 2 SOL – 4.72 GAA – 0.883 SV%

GOALIE STATS – ELLIOT LAKE

1. Braydon Garnhart (04-G) – 17 GP – 3 W – 12 L – 1 SOL – 6.15 GAA – 0.875 SV%
2. ^* Sam Keene (05-G) – 29 GP – 1 W – 16 L – 1 OTL – 2 SOL – 6.22 GAA – 0.857 SV%

POINT STREAKS OR RECORDS – SUDBURY

1. Ben Harris (04-F) – With points in back-to-back games (1 G, 2 A), the forward will look to extend his point-streak to three games tonight.
2. Ben Lacroix (03-F) – Breaking a 10-game goalless drought against the Espanola Paper Kings on Sunday, the Sudbury, ON, native will look to collect points in back-to-back games.
3. Ryan Rubic (04-F) – With points in back-to-back games (1 G, 1 A), the Lively, ON, native broke a seven-game pointless streak with his opening goal against Blind River at home last week. The forward is now up to 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points in 45 games this season.

POINT STREAKS OR RECORDS – ELLIOT LAKE

1. Gavin McLenaghan (05-F) – The rookie was held off the scoresheet in the Vikings’ last game against the Soo Eagles but did have a three-point effort (2 G, 1 A) against Blind River one-game previous. The forward leads the Vikings in scoring with 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points through 48 games played.
2. Anthony Bertrand (07-F) – The forward has goals in two-straight games and looks to make it three 
   in-a-row tonight against the Cubs tonight.
3. Aaron Shanks (05-F) – The Sarnia, ON, native broke a 16-game pointless drought with a goal and an assist in the Vikings’ 9-2 loss against the Soo Eagles on Tuesday night. This was the forward’s second longest pointless streak of the season after going pointless in his first 21 games of the season.