Noah Metivier to Sudbury
Sault Ste. Marie product Noah Metivier, who helped backstop the Soo Thunderbirds to the 2022 championship, is back in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League. The 18-year old Metivier has been acquired by the pace-setting Sudbury Cubs of the NOJHL from the lowly Lindsay Muskies of the Ontario Jr. Hockey League in a cash exchange.
Metivier was acquired by Lindsay from the Thunderbirds in an off season transaction. He had a sizzling regular season for the NOJHL champion Thunderbirds in 2021-2022 with a 20-3-4 record, 1.88 goals against average, .922 save percentage and six shutouts. Metivier followed that up with a 8-1-1 record, 2.08 goals against average and .924 save percentage in the playoffs.
Metivier was struggling in the OJHL with Lindsay this season, He had a 2-8-0 record with a 4.46 goals against average and .870 save percentage on a Muskies team that won only five of its first 24 games. He sees his return to the NOJHL with Sudbury as another opportunity to win a championship.
“I am eager to try to help Sudbury to a berth in the national championship tournament,” relayed Metiivier. “Coming back from a 3-0 deficit in the NOJHL finals against Hearst (this past spring) and winning four straight playoff games has been the highlight of my junior hockey career so far and I am looking at taking that experience and energy with me to Sudbury.”
Cubs head coach Darryl Moxam talked about the addition of Metivier.
“When you land a quality goaltender like Noah Metivier, our team can only become even more excited than they already are,” relayed Moxam. “Given the fact that Noah still has 2.5 years of junior eligibility remaining is especially attractive for us because we are one of the youngest teams in the NOJHL and we would like to keep the Cubs movement alive and well for seasons to come.
With Metivier’s arrival, the Cubs now have three 18-year-old goalies on their roster including Nathaniel Boyes and Noah Beaulne. And Sudbury general manager Dave Clancy addressed the position.
“Despite the crowded crease, we are in no hurry to make a decision on our goaltending situation,” Clancy noted. “We are in a very enviable position with three quality 18-year-old goaltenders and outstanding young men. We will make a decision when the time comes.”