The Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s championship final faces off tonight in Sudbury as the Cubs entertain the Hearst Lumberjacks in game one of the best of seven series.
Jacks Head Coach Marc-Alain Begin says it was a series that everyone was expecting and both teams will be ready to go.
“We had to work on our side, they had to work on their side,” he said. “I think both teams have played well during the playoffs. It’s going to be a good championship series their playing really well all year. We kind of expected they were going to be there waiting for us.”
Begin says both teams will be well rested and believes it will help his group heal a few injuries.
Begin says this is the best scoring depth his team has had since he took over behind the bench.
“You can bring up our d’s like Brayden Hindman scoring a big goal Friday night, and you have Will Paquet scoring some goals,” he said. “Obviously, Adam Shillinglaw doing what he’s doing all year so it’s not only our forward group but our defensive group that can put the puck in the net.”
The two teams have one combined loss in the post season. Game two of the series is tomorrow night also at seven before heading back to Hearst next Tuesday and Wednesday at Claude Larose Recreation Centre.
The full schedule is below:
NOJHL Final
No. 1 Greater Sudbury Cubs vs. No. 2 Heart Lumberjacks
Best-of-seven series
Game 1: Thursday, April 17 @ Sudbury 7 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 2: Friday, April 18 @ Sudbury 7 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 3: Tuesday, April 22 @ Hearst 7 p.m. (Claude Larose Recreation Centre)
Game 4: Wednesday, April 23 @ Hearst 7 p.m. (Claude Larose Recreation Centre)
Game 5*: Friday, April 25 @ Sudbury 7:30 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
Game 6*: Monday, April 28 @ Hearst 7 p.m. (Claude Larose Recreation Centre)
Game 7*: Wednesday, April 30 @ Sudbury 7 p.m. (Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex)
*-if necessary
