Hearst Strikes First: Lumberjacks Top Cubs in Game One of the 2025 NOJHL Copeland McNamara Cup Final -

Photo Credit: Freeze Frame Photos

The stage was set in Sudbury for a heavyweight clash as the 2025 NOJHL Copeland McNamara Cup championship series got underway Wednesday night. The Greater Sudbury Cubs, regular season champions, hosted the second-seeded Hearst Lumberjacks in Game One of the best-of-seven final. Both teams steamrolled their way into the championship, but it was the Lumberjacks who came out swinging — and skating — in the opener.

Hearst wasted no time proving they belonged in the final. Just over seven minutes into the first period, and while shorthanded, forward Mathieu Comeau turned heads with a slick solo effort, slicing through the Cubs’ defense before slipping the puck through Karsen Chartier’s five-hole. Cole Miller picked up the lone assist on Comeau’s fifth goal of the postseason, giving the visitors a 1–0 lead heading into the first intermission.

The second period saw the Lumberjacks catch fire. On a powerplay just over a minute in, Comeau once again made his presence felt — firing a low shot from the top of the right circle that was neatly redirected by DonHeaven Veilleux to double the lead. Adam Shillingford also earned a helper on Veilleux’s ninth of the playoffs.

Less than a minute later, William Pâquet got in on the action, deflecting a blast from Bronson Babyak past Chartier to make it 3–0. Henry Ouellet added an assist on Pâquet’s fourth postseason goal.

At 7:11 of the period, the Lumberjacks struck again, this time just four seconds into a powerplay. Chase Thompson extended the lead to four, scoring from his knees and prompting a goaltending change for Sudbury as Noah Beaulne entered in relief of Chartier. Veilleux and Shillingford added the assists.

The Cubs showed signs of life late in the second. Lucas Signoretti picked up a loose puck in front and buried his 13th of the playoffs to put Sudbury on the board. Noah Newton and Mason Walker were credited with the assists. Signoretti struck again on a five-on-three advantage, knocking in his own rebound with just over a minute remaining in the frame to cut the deficit to 4–2. Spencer Horgan and Nolan Newton assisted on the powerplay tally.

But Hearst would shut the door in the third.

At 14:26, Tyler Patterson capitalized on a costly turnover by Sudbury’s Brady Bouchard, snapping the puck past Beaulne to restore a three-goal lead. With Sudbury pulling their goalie late, Bronson Babyak sealed the win with an empty-netter to make it 6–2.

Sudbury’s netminders, Chartier and Beaulne, combined to stop 17 of 23 shots, while Hearst’s Alexandre Boivin stood tall, turning aside 21 of 23 shots for the win.

With the 6–2 victory, the Hearst Lumberjacks take a 1–0 series lead in the 2025 NOJHL Copeland McNamara Cup final.

Game Two returns to the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury on Friday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m. The Cubs will be looking to even the series, while the Lumberjacks aim to build on a dominant opening performance.