Cubs Bounced
Cubs bounced by Blues in Centennial Cup opener
The Collingwood Blues (OJHL) saw Jack Rimmer score once, and set-up three others, while Calum Chau had a hat trick, to propel their side to a 10-2 triumph over the Greater Sudbury Cubs in Day 2 play Friday at the Centennial Cup, presented by Tim Hortons, at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ont.
Pressing the pace early, the Ontario Junior Hockey League title holders struck 38 seconds into the contest.
On that initial marker, the Blues’ Rimmer sent a pass across to Chau who wired a shot from the left circle, high into the top right-hand corner, that sizzled over the glove of Cubs’ starter Noah Metivier.
Collingwood thought they had notched a second in the session at 7:08, but it was deemed by the on-ice officials that the net had been dislodged before the puck entered the net from close range.
After the NOJHL side generated a few opportunities of their own to try and tie it, the Blues went ahead by pair late into a man advantage when Rimmer moved in from the right point and fired a shot that clipped off a defender and sailed high and in near the 14-minute mark.
An apparent malady to the Greater Sudbury goaltender came after Metivier slid across his crease to thwart a Blues scoring chance, which resulted in back-up Noah Beaulne entering the contest.
The Cubs came back to get on the board late in the session as Hudson Chitaroni powered his way to the net and jammed in a second chance from a sharp angle that squeaked through goalkeeper Noah Pak.
However, Collingwood came right back to restore their two-goal lead when they forced a turnover in the neutral zone, which led to Ethan Facchina pumping one in from up top on Beaulne at 19:47.
Moving to the middle stanza, Metivier returned for Greater Sudbury to begin the period.
Teammate Ethan Larmand cranked one off the post moments in with an effort to get his side back in it, but his attempt hit iron and sailed wide.
Then, the Blues countered and slammed in an extra-man marker at 3:56 as Spencer Young finished off a nice three-way passing play from the slot.
Up a skater once more, the OJHLers when up by four as Jack Silverman spun at the left of the crease and put a shot that found it’s way in, seven minutes into the stanza.
The Blues kept coming and capitalized on a turnover with Damen Boose stuffing one in, which resulted in Beaulne heading back between the pipes.
Clicking on the power play, the Cubs’ Marshall McCharles tipped in a Mason Chitaroni shot from the point at 18:22.
Heading to the third, another special teams’ goal saw Collingwood go well in front as Landon Wright pumped in a one-timer.
Striking again midway through the session, Dylan Hudon converted while in close, while Chau notched his second of the game to extend the cushion.
One final power play marker capped off the one-sided result with Chau hit a hat trick in the waning moments, in seeing his side improve to 2-0-0.
Collecting player of the game honours were Chau and Hudson Chitaroni.
Greater Sudbury (0-1-0) returns to the ice Sunday at 4 p.m. as they take on the Central Canada Hockey League champion Navan Grads (1-0-0).
