Photos: Cassy Seguin
FRENCH RIVER – Some intense pressure during a power play early in overtime saw the Greater Sudbury Cubs capitalize with the game-winner off the stick of Lucas Signoretti as part of a 3-2 triumph versus the French River Rapids Sunday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at Noelville Arena.
A chippy first period did not produce any goals as the clubs hit the initial intermission still scoreless.
In the middle stanza, the Rapids found the mark three minutes into it when Hunter Vilanez broke out of his own zone down the left wing on a two-on-one where he opted to shoot, but was stopped by the Cubs’ Matthew Vahramian, only to quickly snag the rebound and slam it in.
Answering with an equalizer, following some consultations among the officials, it was deemed Greater Sudbury’s Mason Walker had banked in an attempt from behind the goal line that eluded French River netminder Brock Grein at 11:21.
On the power play to commence the third, French River regained the lead after working the play around that led to Ralph Coulis going to the net for a rebound and stuffing in his first NOJHL goal while battling in front.
Tying it up once more, the Cubs’ Samuel Assinewai chipped one off Grein while working along the goal line at 6:45.
Heading to OT while up a skater, the visitors carried the play and eventually saw Signoretti pull up and make a nice move to his left before whipping in the decider through a screen to end it.
