Photos: Sudbury Light Event Photography
SUDBURY, Ont. – Greater Sudbury Cubs goaltender Joel Rainville registered his Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League-leading fifth shutout of the season Wednesday as he backstopped his club to a 3-0 victory over the Espanola Express at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
Picking up a two-man advantage midway through the first period, Greater Sudbury capitalized as Nicholas Toffoli was fed in the high slot and proceeded to whip one upstairs over the glove of Espanola goalkeeper Matthew Loney to put the home side up by one.
Remaining tightly-contested throughout the rest of the opening frame and all of the middle stanza, the Cubs carried their slim 1-0 lead into the second intermission.
Play in the third period saw it stay that way until the late going when Greater Sudbury collected some insurance with 1:40 remaining as Billy Biedermann used a nice attempt from close range as he lifted one off the crossbar and in, from very close range, for his 18th goal of the season.
The hosts then capped off the home ice decision 25 seconds later with Seth Coulter making a very unselfish play on a two-man break, on an empty net, as he opted to pass it over to affiliate Kohen Crane to give him his first NOJHL tally, on a night where he made his league debut.
