On Wednesday, September 3rd, the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League regular season began with a meeting between the Sudbury Nickel Barons and the Mattawa Jr. A Blackhawks. This would be the first game the Barons play since local teen and Barons prospect DJ Hancock's life was taken by a drunk driver in an accident on August 22nd.
Starting in goal for the Barons was former Blind River Beaver Jessie Morin, and Josh Horner in net for the Blackhawks. The game started off at a fast pace, and both clubs had their chances. Being tested early though was Horner. Only 3:27 into the first period the Blackhawks gave up a breakaway chance and Barons forward Cray Roberge was able to capitalize and giving Sudbury the early lead. Only minutes later, the Blackhawks had a breakaway opportunity of their own but Morin was able to shut the door and maintain the 1-0 lead. The Barons would cycle the puck and keep the game in the Blackhawks zone, when Roberge netted his second of the period. The Barons looked strong and confident with a 2-0 lead going into the second frame.
After the first twenty minutes, the Barons lead in shots 18-10, and dominated time on attack. That moment wouldn't carry over to the second however. Mattawa came out in the second with high energy and speed on the wing. The game went to back and forth on the rush, but the Blackhawks were first to strike in the period. Only a minute and a half in, Tyler Broderson was able to tuck one past Morin to bring the Blackhawks within one. The Blackhawks were unable to capitalize on two second period power plays but kept the game a close 2-1 going into the final period.
Going into the third period both teams were bumping heads and ready to give it all for the win. The period again began with high energy and excitement, as just over a minute in Barons forward Jimmy Roy scored his first of the game, recording his second point of the night putting Sudbury up 3-1. Mattwa would strike back though at 6:29 into the period, Alex Hulford brings the Blackhawks within one again as he scores a power play goal off a August Jarecki roughing penalty. The games high energy continued and the players started to feel it and play a rougher style game. Two head contact calls were made in the third period, one to each team coming with a ten minute misconduct to each player. When the tempers settled, it was the one and only Cray Roberge scoring the dagger and hat-trick goal to make it a 4-2 game, and put it away.
The Barons would win season and home opener thanks to great goaltending from Morin, stopping 34 of 36 shots and the performance of hat-trick hero Cray Roberge. Honourable mentions to Josh Horner, stopping 43 of 47 shots and three Barons power plays, and Kyle Baril on a multi-point night recording two assists. The Blackhawks take the ice again tomorrow night in Cochrane to take on the Crunch in the franchises first home opener, and the Barons are back a week today on Wednesday the 10th hosting the Elliot Lake Wildcats in their first ever regular season game.
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