saultsports 
Photos: Caleigh Fera – Points North Media
SUDBURY, Ont. – After building up a comfortable third period lead, the Greater Sudbury had to hold off a late determined push by a resilient Iroquois Falls Storm side before eventually holding on in a narrow 6-5 victory Friday in Game 2 of their quarter-final series at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
With the close win, the Cubs now lead the best-of-seven set 2-0 heading into Game 3 Monday at Jus Jordan Arena in Iroquois Falls, that gets underway at 7:30 p.m.
In Friday’s tilt, Greater Sudbury did take control early by connecting multiple times before the contest was 12 and a half minutes in.
Ryan Rubic began the outburst by coming out from along the side-wall and firing a low shot that clipped off the skate of an Iroquois Falls defencemen and went through the legs of netminder Maverick Fletcher.
Striking shorthanded at 5:36, the Cubs’ Lucas Signoretti chased down a loose puck in the Storm zone, then after making a spin move in deep, worked his way free in front and roofed a backhand.
Adding another a couple of shifts later, Samuel Assinewai made it 3-0 as he tucked in a close-range chance on Fletcher.
Continuing to press, Daks Klinkhammer added to the barrage when he chopped in a rebound off a Noah Kohan shot.
Carrying their cushion into the second period, Greater Sudbury carried the play for most of it, but it was Iroquois Falls who capitalized with a marker at 14:31.
On the tally, Landon Trethewey collected a loose puck down low off a Justin Doak blast and put a play in front that goalkeeper Karsen Chartier could not locate that allowed Jaden Lyons to convert from the top of the crease.
Regrouping, Signoretti answered that less than two minutes later as he benefitted from a turnover and scored with an attempt from between the circles.
Adding to their lead at 4:04 on third, Noah Kohan was teed-up by a Michael MacLean pass up high and cranked in a one-timer.
Getting that right back moments later, Alexandre St. Pierre of the Storm spun in the slot and put a shot off the stick of a defender that changed direction and sailed over the blocker of Chartier.
Notching another midway through the session, Jordan Mayo darted into the Cubs’ end with pace and worked a give-and-go with Carter Jamieson before guiding in the return feed while driving hard to the crease.
Building on that, Iroquois Falls kept coming and banged in two more to get within one with just under six minutes remaining in regulation.
Ben Sherwin made it 6-4 during a man advantage opportunity that saw him smartly tip in a Mayo wrister from the point before St. Pierre finished off a goal-mouth scramble by hacking one past Chartier from the left side.
Tightening up defensively, Greater Sudbury managed to withstand one final push by the Storm, with Fletcher on the bench for an extra attacker, to eventually survive the late Storm surge an extend their series lead.
NOJHL quarter-final
No. 1 Greater Sudbury Cubs vs. No. 8 Iroquois Falls Storm
Cubs lead best-of-seven series 2-0
Game 1: Cubs 7 Storm 1
Game 2: Cubs 6 Storm 5
Game 3: Monday, March 24 @ Iroquois Falls 7:30 p.m. (Jus Jordan Arena)
Game 4: Tuesday, March 25 @ Iroquois Falls 7:30 p.m. (Jus Jordan Arena)
Game 5*: Thursday, March 27 @ Sudbury 7 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 6*: Sunday, March 30 @ Iroquois Falls 7:30 p.m. (Jus Jordan Arena)
Game 7*: Tuesday, April 1 @ Sudbury 7 p.m. (T.M. Davies Community Centre Arena – Walden)
*-if necessary
About The Author
