ESPANOLA, Ont. – As the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League leaders in power play efficiency, the Greater Sudbury Cubs tacked on five more-man advantage markers to their totals Friday night in cruising past the Espanola Paper Kings 12-1 in a penalty-filled outing at the Regional Recreation Complex.
Coming out hard from the on set, the Cubs struck four times in a span of three minutes and 14 seconds early on to take control.
Mateo Signoretti began the Greater Sudbury barrage at 4:37 as he blasted a shot through traffic that flew past Espanola starter Cameron Millar.
Moments later, Mason Walker made it 2-0, to extend a point streak to 13 as he spun between the circles and ripped one upstairs.
A goaltending change saw back-up Logan Vale enter in relief, but Ty Dubreuil greeted him with an extra-man effort at 7:26 when he steered in a pass put his way from Lucas Antonioni.
Coming right back, the Cubs clicked again thanks to Jonathan Varela, who jumped in from the point and knuckled one by Vale.
A fifth in the frame featured Walker striking shorthanded after being credited with banking one in off a defender with teammate Owen King joining him by going to the net.
The Paper Kings got one back early in the second period thanks to Callum Millar who went to his left and lifted his chance over goalkeeper Matthew Vahramian.
Countering, the high-scoring Cubs saw King tally twice to put the guests firmly back in control.
King’s initial effort had him click on the power play as he blasted in a feed down low from Walker, that eluded Millar, who had returned to the Espanola net earlier.
The Greater Sudbury goal-getter then whipped in another, just after a man advantage they were on had expired.
In the final frame, the visitors completed the onslaught as they banged in five more goals, featuring three more while on the man advantage, to complete the romp.
The marksmen in the period were Briir Long; King, who registered his sixth hat trick of the season with his NOJHL-leading 44th goal, defenceman Alex Valade; Walker, to supply a three-goal night of his own, and Ty Dubreuil, to wrap up the rout.
With the result, the first place Cubs improve to 39-8-3-2 and in the loss the Paper Kings fall to 26-21-1-3.
