The Powassan Voodoos and Greater Sudbury Cubs might play in opposite divisions of the NOJHL (NOrthern Ontario Junior Hockey League), but they are anything but strangers.

The participants in the league final which kicks off tonight at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex met 11 times in regular season play as the junior loop runs an imbalanced schedule that sees travel requirements taken into consideration.

By comparison, the Cubs met up with the Timmins Rock on only three occasions, the very squad that Powassan outlasted in seven games in the East Division final on Tuesday night. In fact, Sudbury and Timmins last went toe to toe in a league game back on November 5th at the McIntyre Arena.

The Cubs closed out their set with the Voodoos on March 14th, edging Powassan 3-2 to end the season with an 8-2-0-1 record versus the team they are about to meet to contest the Copeland Cup - McNamara Trophy.

That said, it should be noted that Sudbury recorded four of their wins by just a single goal, with the Voodoos enjoying victory celebrations in two of the last three matchups between the teams this year.

Throw in the fact that Powassan is riding an incredible high after Zach Turner snapped a 3-3 tie in Timmins - with just 26 seconds to play in regulation time - and you have the makings of a great final.

Oliver Smith (5G-12A), Hudson Chitaroni (8G-4A) and Samuel Assinewai (3G-8A) led the Cubs opposite the Voodoos while the likes of Tucker Shields (3G-7A), Mathieu MacMillan (1G-7A) and Cameron Lemcke (3G-4A) all seemed to enjoy the additional space that the Countryside Arena provides.

The goaltending matchup, as always, will be key with Noah Metivier (8GP - 3.02 GAA - .911 save %) enjoying somewhat better numbers than his counterpart, Daniel Dirracolo (8GP - 3.63 GAA - .887 save %).

The Cubs clearly enter the series more well rested, benefitting from a one-week hiatus since eliminating the Blind River Beavers 3-1 in game five of the West Division final.

In addition to their familiarity with the Sudbury venue, the Voodoos are also nothing if not road warriors this spring, boasting a record of 6-1 away from the Powassan Arena. The Cubs have been no slouch when forced to travel this post-season, taking two of three on the road from both the Soo Thunderbirds and Blind River.

Game two is set for Friday night in what will be a hectic start to the championship tilt, with games three and four back in Powassan on Sunday (April 21st) and Monday (April 22nd) before the teams come up for air.