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In the biggest game of the season for these determined young men in the NOJHL, the Hearst Lumberjacks traveled to Sudbury, Ontario on Wednesday, April 30th, for a thrilling Game 7 showdown in the Copeland McNamara Cup championship. After trailing 3–1 in the best-of-seven series against the formidable Greater Sudbury Cubs, Hearst mounted an impressive comeback to force the decisive game. The Cubs, hungry for their second NOJHL playoff title, were determined to defend home ice and seal their spot on the national stage. With everything on the line, the winner of this high-stakes clash would earn the honor of representing Northern Ontario at the 2025 Centennial Cup in Calgary, taking place from May 8th to 18th.
In a thrilling game seven matchup at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury, the Greater Sudbury Cubs defended home ice and secured their second consecutive Copeland McNamara Cup title with a 6–4 win over the Hearst Lumberjacks. The fast-paced, physical battle capped off a dramatic comeback series where Hearst had clawed back from a 3–1 series deficit to force the deciding game.
The scoring opened early on a Sudbury powerplay when Daks Klinkhammer buried his ninth goal of the postseason at 8:28 of the first period. Positioned between the faceoff circles, Klinkhammer pounced on a rebound off Hearst goaltender Alexandre Boivin. Lucas Signoretti and Spencer Horgan drew assists on the tally. The Lumberjacks answered back with a powerplay goal of their own in the final minute of the opening period. After a point shot from Adam Shillinglaw, Matheiu Comeau swept home the rebound past Sudbury goalie Karsen Chartier to tie the game 1–1. Liam Boswell earned the secondary assist on Comeau’s ninth of the playoffs.
Sudbury came out strong in the second, regaining the lead just 70 seconds in with another powerplay goal. Noah Kohan buried a rebound for his seventh of the postseason, with Nolan Newton and Signoretti once again involved in the setup. Less than three minutes later, Samuel Assinewai fed a slick behind-the-net pass to Cameron Shanks, who made no mistake for his fourth of the playoffs, giving the Cubs a 3–1 lead.
Hearst clawed back with a gritty effort in front of the net as Bronson Babyak pushed a loose puck past Chartier at 6:28, cutting the deficit to one. Henry Ouellet picked up the lone assist. Sudbury responded swiftly, restoring their two-goal cushion just under two minutes later. Spencer Horgan netted his fifth of the postseason at 8:10, set up by Newton and Signoretti. Less than a minute later, Alexandre Valade scored his first of the playoffs off a rebound from Garden River’s Lincoln Moore, with Newton recording his third assist of the night. The goal prompted a goaltending change for Hearst, with Owen Bonthuis replacing Boivin.
Despite the setback, the Lumberjacks refused to quit. Aiden Kalin found himself all alone by the left post and capitalized on a loose puck to bring the score to 5–3 at 13:22 of the second. William Pâquet and Chase Thompson registered assists on Kalin’s fourth playoff goal.
In the third period, Hearst turned up the pressure. Just over three minutes in, DonHeaven Veilleux maneuvered through the slot and beat Chartier with a slick backhand to pull the Lumberjacks within one. Jean-Pierre Audras earned the assist on Veilleux’s 13th of the postseason. But with time winding down and the Hearst net empty for an extra attacker, Lincoln Moore fired a precision pass through the neutral zone to spring Klinkhammer on a breakaway. He sealed the win — and the championship — with his second of the night, making it 6–4.
Karsen Chartier was stellar between the pipes for the Cubs, stopping 31 of 35 shots. On the opposite end, Hearst netminders Boivin and Bonthuis combined to stop 21 of 26 shots. For his outstanding postseason performance, Lucas Signoretti was named the 2025 NOJHL Playoff MVP.
With the win, the Greater Sudbury Cubs punch their ticket to the national stage, where they’ll represent Northern Ontario at the 2025 Centennial Cup in Calgary from May 8th to 18th. Stay tuned to Saultsports for full coverage of the Cubs’ journey at the national championship.
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