Cubs are a homegrown hub
It is a league that is a combine competition of a fleet of contending teams. And at mid November, it is the Sudbury Cubs who have the best winning percentage in a Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League where nine of the 12 teams are above the .500 mark.
Not only do the Cubs have a league best record of 17-4-2 and .783 winning percentage, but no less than 16 of the 23 players on their roster are either from Greater Sudbury or nearby northern towns. And six of the Cubs top seven scorers are northern boys as is their no. 1 goalie.
The list of leading scorers who were developed on Sudbury Minor Hockey Association rinks includes Billy Biedermann, Oliver Smith, Pierson Sobush, Cole Crowder, Cameron Walker and Cameron Shanks. And no. 1 goalie Noah Beaulne is also a local lad.
And on the coaching side, both head master Darryl Moxam and his ageless sidekick associate Dave Clancy have an association to the Sudbury hockey scene that spans multiple decades.
Granted, the Cubs play out of the NOJHL’s biggest market. But having said that, they compete for local and area players with nearby NOJHL teams such as the Espanola Paper Kings, French River Rapids and Powassan Voodoos.
The fact that the Cubs have such a focus on having local talent on board is not surprising if you know owner Mark Burgess and his chief lieutenant Blaine Smith. When Burgess owned the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League and Smith was his right hand man, there was also an unwavering commitment to giving local players an opportunity — and over a 30-year span at that.
The Cubs play their home games at fan friendly Countryside Sports Complex. And next home game for the Cubs is this Thursday at 7:05 p.m. when they play host to West Division rival Elliot Lake Red Wings.