The Greater Sudbury Cubs celebrated back-to-back 4-0 wins over the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds over Easter weekend to book their spot in the second round of the 2024 Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Playoffs. Cubs’ goalie Noah Metivier put the team on his back stopping a combined 33 shots over Games 5 and 6 to send his team to their second consecutive West Division Finals and ultimately getting revenge on a Thunderbirds team that eliminated Greater Sudbury from the playoffs last season.
The Cubs take on the Blind River Beavers in Round Two, a series that gets underway on Thursday, April 4. The Beavers are coming off a 4-3 series win over the Espanola Paper Kings who led the series 3-1 before the Beavers stormed back, winning three games in a row to claim the first round victory and send the Paper Kings folding.
During the regular season, the Cubs and Beavers faced each other four times with the Beavers winning three of four contests and outscoring the Cubs 18-12 in the process. Greater Sudbury finished the season second in the West Division with 89 points while Blind River clinched first in the West Division and were crowned Regular Season Champions with 91 points.
Cubs and Beavers Second Round Playoff Schedule
The NOJHL announced Monday the schedule for its West Division Final between the Blind River Beavers and Greater Sudbury Cubs. Action in the best-of-seven affair will commence Thursday in a 7 p.m. start at the Blind River Community Centre.
Game 1: Thursday, April 4 @ Blind River 7 p.m. (Blind River Community Centre)
Game 2: Saturday, April 6 @ Blind River 7 p.m. (Blind River Community Centre)
Game 3: Monday, April 8 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 4: Tuesday, April 9 @ Sudbury 7:05 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 5*: Thursday, April 11 @ Blind River 7 p.m. (Blind River Community Centre)
Game 6*: Sunday, April 14 @ Sudbury 7:35 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 7*: Tuesday, April 16 @ Blind River 7 p.m. (Blind River Community Centre)
*-if necessary
The winner will meet either the Timmins Rock or Powassan Voodoos for the Copeland Cup – McNamara Trophy NOJHL championship. Stay tuned for all the exciting updates as the Blind River Beavers and the Greater Sudbury Cubs battle it out in the West Division Final.