Cubs host Voodoos to kick-off February

Sudbury, Ont. – The Greater Sudbury Cubs look to extend their win streak to three games as they host the Powassan Voodoos for the fourth time this season. This, their 22nd home game of the season, is the first of six home games the Cubs will host at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex this month.

Greater Sudbury won both games last week, outscoring their opponents 12-4 in those two games. Forward Oliver Smith continued his sensational play of late, scoring two goals and assisting twice in the Cubs’ 7-1 win over the Soo Eagles on Thursday, January 25, before providing a goal and an assist in the team’s 5-3 win over the Voodoos two days later.

With the victories, Sudbury moved up one spot to 12th in the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s Top 20 Rankings – Fueled by Gatorade and now lead the NOJHL with 68 points. The Cubs continue to lead the league in Goals For (209) and remain third in the league in Goals Against (121). The Cubs enter tonight with a home-record of 17-2-1-1 and are 7-1-1-1 in their last 10 games.

The Voodoos come to the Countryside Sports Complex having lost to Greater Sudbury in a game last Saturday, but still having won six of their last 10. Powassan is currently third in the Eastern Division with an overall record of 24-15-0-2. Their away record is 11-6-0-1.

Previous meetings

Sudbury holds a 7-1-0-0 record this season over the Voodoos and have historically had their number, entering tonight with a 16-6-1-0 record against them over the last five seasons. In their previous matchup just five nights ago, the Cubs scored three unanswered goals in the second period from Hudson Martin (5), Oliver Smith (33), and Nolan Newton (23) after squandering an early lead in the first period with goals by Hudson Chitaroni (24) and Ethan Larmand (3). Sudbury would hold on for the 5-3 road victory.

Player to watch (Sudbury)

Ethan Larmand (03-F) – The 20-year-old enters tonight looking to extend his point-streak to three games after scoring in back-to-back games last week against the Eagles and Voodoos. The Midland, Ont., native has three points in four games with the Cubs since joining the team at the trade deadline after splitting the first-half of his season with the Sudbury Wolves (OHL), and Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL).

Player to watch (Powassan)

Mathieu MacMillan (04-F) – Coming into tonight on a six-game point streak with three goals and eight assists, the second-year NOJHL forward has 51 points (19 G, 32 A – 51 Pts) in 37 career games played this season and is averaging 1.38 points per game this season.

BEAR FACTS

LEADING SCORERS – SUDBURY

1. Oliver Smith (03-F) – 43 GP – 33 G – 43 A – 76 Pts [4 PPG – 15 PPA – 1 SHG – 1 SHA – 6 GWG]
2. * Hudson Chitaroni (07-F) – 40 GP – 24 G – 32 A – 56 Pts [7 PPG – 11 PPA – 1 SHA – 2 GWG]
3. Nolan Newton (06-F) – 21 GP – 23 G – 22 A – 45 Pts [9 PPG – 4 PPA – 4 GWG]
4. Samuel Assinewai (04-F) – 27 GP – 17 G – 28 A – 45 Pts [3 PPG – 5 PPA – 1 GWG]
5. Cameron Shanks (04-F) – 41 GP – 10 G – 21 A – 31 Pts [1 PPA – 1 SHG – 1 SHA – 2 GWG]

* rookie

LEADING SCORERS – POWASSAN

1. Mathieu MacMillan (04-F) – 37 GP – 19 G – 32 A – 51 Pts [7 PPG – 10 PPA – 3 GWG]
2. Chase Thompson (05-F) – 40 GP – 16 G – 32 A – 48 Pts [4 PPG – 8 PPA – 1 GWG]
3. Cameron Lemcke (03-F) – 41 GP – 15 G – 33 A – 48 Pts [4 PPG – 8 PPA – 1 SHA – 2 GWG]
4. * Reyth Smith (07-F) – 38 GP – 21 G – 20 A – 41 Pts [1 PPG – 5 PPA – 1 SHG – 3 GWG]
5. Ryan Patrick (04-F) – 40 GP – 15 G – 17 A – 32 Pts [6 PPG – 6 PPA – 1 GWG]

* rookie

LAST FIVE GAMES – SUDBURY

1. 5-3 W @ Powassan (27-01-24)
2. 7-1 W vs Soo Eagles (25-01-24)
3. 3-2 L @ Soo Thunderbirds (19-01-24)
4. 4-3 W vs Soo Thunderbirds (18-01-24)
5. 3-1 W @ French River (14-01-24)

LAST FIVE GAMES – POWASSAN

1. 5-3 L vs Greater Sudbury (27-01-24)
2. 5-4 W vs Espanola (26-01-24)
3. 5-0 W @ Kirkland Lake (20-01-24)
4. 5-0 W @ Espanola (19-02-24)
5. 5-1 W @ French River (13-01-24)

GOALIE STATS – SUDBURY

1. Noah Beaulne (04-G) – 18 GP – 13 W – 3 L – 1 OTL – 2.53 GAA – 0.912 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 – POWASSAN

1. * Tyson Wilcox (05-G) – 7 GP – 5 W – 1 L – 1 SO – 2.53 GAA – 0.934%
2. Daniel Dirracolo (05-G) – 28 GP – 13 W – 11 L – 2 SOL – 2 SO – 2.96 GAA – 0.920 SV%
3. * Miles Gordon (05-G) – 7 GP – 4 W – 3 L – 3.32 GAA – 0.891 SV%
4. Patrick Charette (05-G) – 1 GP – 1 W – 0 L – 4.00 GAA – 0.892 SV%

* rookie

POINT STREAKS OR RECORDS – SUDBURY

1. Oliver Smith (03-F) – The 20-year-old forward is on a 16-game point streak with 15 goals and 18 assists for 33 points in that span. Smith has 76 points (33 G, 43 A – 76 Pts) in 43 games played this season and is averaging 1.77 points per game. Smith reached the 200-point mark of his NOJHL career in his last game against the Voodoos.
2. Hudson Martin (07-D) – The rookie defenceman enters tonight looking to extend his point streak to three games with a goal and two assists in his last two games. The Midhurst, Ont., native has 27 points (5 G, 22 A – 27 Pts) in 43 games played this season.
3. Marshall McCharles (06-F) – The 17-year-old forward has assists in back-to-back games since returning to the lineup after a lengthy absence and hopes to extend his point streak to three games.

POINT STREAKS OR RECORDS – POWASSAN

1. Zach Turner (03-F) – With a goal in the Voodoos 5-3 losing effort against Greater Sudbury in their last matchup, the 20-year-old has four goals in his last five games.
2. Alexander Case (03-D) – With two assists in the last game against Greater Sudbury, the Kingston, Ont., native enters tonight with 28 points (6 G, 22 A – 28 Pts) in 37 games played this season.
3. Chase Thompson (05–F) – Having tallied five assists in his last two games, the North Bay, Ont., native is averaging 1.20 points per game for 48 points (16 G, 32 A – 48 Pts) in 40 games played this season and has now reached 100 NOJHL points on his career.