Photos: Justin Cairns
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – A Jack Mortson marker nearly eight minutes into the second period held up as the game-winner as the Soo Eagles skated to a narrow 2-1 victory over the Greater Sudbury Cubs in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Friday at Pullar Stadium.
Notching the game’s opening goal, with a minute left in the first period, Greater Sudbury saw a nice cross-ice pass from Grahame Siren find Cameron Walker flying up the left wing where he fired a shot that was stopped by the Eagles’ Ryan Gilmore, but he rebound came right back to the Cubs’ forward, who made no mistake with his second opportunity.
Tying things up 4:13 into the middle session, Chase Tallaire made nifty feed over the Kolby Fox who drove to the net from the right side and chipped a short backhand that got through Great Sudbury goalkeeper Joel Rainville.
Taking the lead three minutes later, Sault Ste. Marie’s Mortson banged in a loose puck while situated near the net after taking a splendid behind the back pass from Tallaire while lying on the ice.
From there it remained a tight-checking goaltenders battle with neither Gilmore nor Rainville giving ground the rest of the way.
The outcome saw the Soo improve to 31-9-2-2 of the season while Greater Sudbury slipped to 26-17-3-1 in defeat.
