OFFICIAL SITE OF THE SOO EAGLES JUNIOR A HOCKEY CLUB

GALLERY: Newton tallies twice in Cubs victory over Eagles

PHOTOS: Caleigh Fera – Sudbury Light Event Photography

SUDBURY, Ont. – The Greater Sudbury Cubs saw Nolan Newton score twice Thursday, including collecting the eventual game-winner, as part of a 5-3 triumph versus the Soo Eagles in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.

Picking up the night’s opening tally, Greater Sudbury’s Cameron Shanks skated down the left wing, then drove hard to the net, where he put one upstairs on Sault Ste. Marie stater Logan Raffaele, just over four minutes into the proceedings.

Taking a 2-0 lead at 13:06 of the frame, the Cubs’ Oliver Smith, took a pass just outside the Eagles’ blueline, then wheeled into the high slot where he whipped a wrister by the outstretched pad of Raffaelle.

Pressing the pace further to begin the middle stanza, the home side needed just 48 seconds to go up by three, when Newton collected his own rebound and stuffed a backhand under the Soo goalkeeper, off a goal-mouth scramble.

Nolan and Greater Sudbury came back with another just over five minutes after that when he neatly tipped in a Marshall McCharles attempt from the top of the circles.

Battling back, the Eagles moved closer with consecutive goals to move within a pair.

Jack Mortson’s team-leading 22nd put the guests on the board as he finished off a nice pass from Chase Taillare that left him with plenty of time to pick the corner on Cubs netminder Noah Metivier.

Adding another, the Soo saw Tieg Driessen find the right hard corner with a sharp shot.

The hosts came back to go regain their cushion with a last-minute effort courtesy of Cole Crowder, who picked up his 20th of the season by chipping a chance in by a sprawled Raffelle, who could not locate the puck in time.

Moving on to third, Mortson provided his second of the evening and 23rd overall as Isaiah Gagerman put one off the end boards that bounded back and front, which allowed the Eagles’ captain to convert from close range.

That would be it however, in terms of any further scoring, as the Cubs secured the victory and improved to a league-best 34-6-2-0 on the year.

In defeat, the Soo fell under .500 overall, falling to 17-18-3-1 overall.