NOJHL playoff pulse
Two teams have already advanced to the second round of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoffs while four others are still in opening round stare downs.
No. 1 seed Sudbury Cubs did as was expected in upending the eighth seed Iroquois Falls Storm in four straight games while no. 2 seed Hearst Lumberjacks disposed of the seventh seed Powassan Voodoos in similar style.
Regular season scoring leader Lucas Signoretti continued his prowess into the first round for Sudbury with seven goals, four assists, 11 points while goalie Karsen Chartier started and finished all four matches in the sweep of Iroquois Falls.
Meanwhile, a pair of Great North Under 18 Hockey League grads sparked Hearst to its four game vanquish of Powassan. Defenseman Adam Shillinglaw had two goals, six assists, eight points while goalie Alex Boivin was between the pipes for all four Lumberjack victories.
Still in first round play are the third seed Blind River Beavers and the sixth seed Soo Thunderbirds with the best of seven series tied at two games apiece.
And the fourth seed Timmins Rock holds a two games to one lead on the fifth seed Soo Eagles with the home ice having decided each match thus far. Goalies have been the difference in this one as Dryden Riley allowed just one goal for Timmins as the Rock took Games 1 and 2. And in Game 3, Mason Burkes made 50 saves as the Eagles got into the win column with a 5-3 triumph.
For full schedule of all playoff games visit NOJHL.com