NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
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The Greater Sudbury Cubs saw Alex Valade score twice as part of a 4-1 victory over the Elliot Lake Vikings Thursday evening in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
Carrying the play and having multiple man advantage opportunities, Greater Sudbury finally solved Elliot Lake starter Ryder Lally near the 14-minute mark of the opening frame.
Late into a power play, Valade put an attempt towards the net from the right circle that clipped off a Vikings’ defender and found its way in for his initial NOJHL tally.
Despite a significant edge in shots on goal, Lally kept it close into the first intermission.
In the middle stanza, the home side maintained the pressure, and bagged two more markers by connecting twice on the man advantage.
With a five-on-three, Lucas Signoretti slid a back-door pass to an open Samuel Assinewai, who whipped his first of the campaign at 9:01.
Still up a skater, Greater Sudbury notched another extra-man effort with Mason Walker weaving through traffic while darting in and supplying a highlight reel effort for his opening league marker.
Six and a half minutes into the third, Elliot Lake dashed the shutout bid of Matthew Vahramian when Samuel Gravel snapped a shot from the left point that was neatly redirected in by Kaiden Emond for his first NOJHL goal.
Getting that back, Valade notched another for the Cubs as he powered his way up ice and wired one high glove side from the top of the circles.
That capped off the night’s scoring, thanks to the efforts of Lally who did his part in keeping the Vikings in it throughout, while facing a barrage of shots.
The Cubs are back at it Friday as they visit Hearst while Elliot Lake plays on the road Saturday against the Soo Eagles.
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