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September 08, 2022 • September 9, 2022 • 4 minutes of reading • 
Greater Sudbury Cubs defenseman Graeme Siren (83) handles the puck under pressure from Powassan Voodoos forward Rhys Smetham (19) during the Cubs’ NOJHL season opener at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury , Ontario, on Thursday, September 8, 2022. Photo by Ben Leeson/The Sudbury Star/Postmedia Network
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While the Greater Sudbury Cubs would love to see Noah Kohan become a consistent point producer in the NOJHL, they’ll surely understand if not every goal is as pretty as the one he scored at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex on Thursday night.
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With the Cubs already holding a one-goal lead over the nationally ranked Powassan Voodoos, the rookie forward deftly worked his way past a defender and slid a puck past goalkeeper Kannon Flageolle for a score sure to be the highlight of the game. the night, or even the week, and helped the hosts secure a convincing 6-1 win in their season opener.
“I think we have a lot more skill up front this year and a lot of speed,” said second-year forward Pierson Sobush, who was not far behind offensively with a goal and an assist Thursday. “We’ve got some new guys coming in, but I have no doubt they’ll settle in well. Our returning players are taking on new roles and so far everything is going very well.”
It was a comeback, Cameron Walker, who scored the Cubs’ first goal of the season at 3:34 of a fast-paced opening period, before a familiar face, former Sudbury Nickel Caps standout Cameron Lemcke, got one back. for the Voodoos at 9:05.
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Then it was time for a rookie to shine, as Nolan Newton finished off passes from fellow freshman Marshall McCharles and recently returned veteran Oliver Smith at the 17:54 mark, putting Greater Sudbury ahead for good.
“First game back, we had a lot of energy and I couldn’t have asked for more from any of the guys,” Sobush said. “We had a slower start to the game, but in the second and third periods, we got to them with a lot of speed and took our chances.”
After Kohan’s count at 11:25, Sobush put the seal on a more one-sided second stanza when he rebounded at 16:55, then the Cubs killed a late penalty to take a 4-1 lead in the locker room. .
Greater Sudbury Cubs goalie Nathaniel Boyes (30) congratulates his teammates following Cameron Walker’s goal against the Powassan Voodoos during the Cubs’ NOJHL season opener at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury, Ont. , on Thursday, September 8, 2022. Photo by Ben Leeson/The Sudbury Star/Postmedia Network
“I’m playing the same kind of role that I did last year,” said Sobush, an 18-year-old local product whose strong second half in 2021-22 lifted him to fourth among the Cubs in points and second in goals, behind the now graduate Kyler Campbell. “Maybe I should lead by example a little bit more this year, maybe take some of the rookies under my wing, but I’ll play the same game I played last year, trying to help us produce as a team.”
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With Kohan down and hurt after being tackled behind the Voodoos net, the puck found its way to Graeme Siren at the point and his shot sliced through traffic and into the Flageolle goal at 4:33 of the third.
Powassan came alive around the middle of the period, generating a handful of quality chances, but Sudbury star Nathaniel Boyes held his ground. The Cubs had their own glorious chances as the ice opened up, with Newton and Walker narrowly missing, before Matthew Mazzotta blasted a sharp shot through a crowd and into Powassan’s net at 17:50, with Walker and Newton getting assists. instead.
“I was really encouraged by two weeks in practice with the guys, with their willingness to learn, to implement some of the things that we’re looking at,” said Darryl Moxam, who returns to the NOJHL this season as a Cubs player. new head coach. “It’s almost to the point where I’m like guys, we’re not going to be perfect this early in the season. Just to see the effort they’re putting in not just physically, but mentally to implement those things, I’ve honestly been amazed. For a person in that room right now, they want to be better and that’s a great feeling as a coaching staff, knowing they’re committed in that way.”
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Greater Sudbury Cubs head coach Darryl Moxam speaks to his players during the Cubs’ NOJHL season opener against the Powassan Voodoos at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury, Ont., on Thursday, September 8, 2022 . Photo by Ben Leeson/The Sudbury Star/Postmedia Network
It was no accident, he said, that the Cubs were looking to transition from defense to offense as quickly as possible and he believes the ability to do so is essential to the team’s success.
“We played about 30 games on an Olympic-sized ice surface and we want that to be part of our identity at home,” Moxam said. “Things can change down the road, because there are some smaller buildings and we’re going to have to make adjustments that way, but we want our defenders to rush, we want them to be part of the offense on the offensive blue lines. Some of these children are exceptionally skilled and we want them to be able to use their attributes. The guys are excited for that to be a part of their game, but they know they have to be great on the defensive end as well.”
The Cubs will look to find the same form in another home game against the Hearst Lumberjacks on Friday at 7:05 p.m., followed by a visit to French River Rapids on Saturday at 7 p.m.
“We want to go in with the same mindset that we did today, with the same energy,” Sobush said. “We were all excited, because it was our first game of the season, but we have to keep the same energy in the future: a lot of rest, a lot of hydration, all the keys to success.”
Twitter: @ben_leeson
Greater Sudbury Cubs players listen to the national anthem before the Cubs’ NOJHL season opener against the Powassan Voodoos at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury, Ont., on Thursday, September 8, 2022. Photo by Ben Leeson/The Sudbury Star/Postmedia Network 
Powassan Voodoos forward Liam Serviss (8) battles for a puck with Greater Sudbury Cubs forward Miguel Renaud (10) during the Cubs’ NOJHL season opener at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury , Ontario, on Thursday, September 8, 2022. Photo by Ben Leeson/The Sudbury Star/Postmedia Network 
Greater Sudbury Cubs goaltender Nathaniel Boyes (30) watches the play during the Cubs’ NOJHL season opener against the Powassan Voodoos at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury, Ont., Thursday, September 8, 2022 . Photo by Ben Leeson/The Sudbury Star/Postmedia Network 
Powassan Voodoos defenseman Tyson Rismond (17) grabs the zone for the Greater Sudbury Cubs during the Cubs’ NOJHL season opener at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury, Ont., on Thursday, September 8 of 2022. Photo by Ben Leeson/The Sudbury Star/Postmedia Network
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