NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Sept. 11, 2015
Rayside-Balfour spoils Espanola’s home opener
ESPANOLA, Ont. – A Cayse Ton tally 6:34 into the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Rayside-Balfour Canadians defeated the Espanola 3-1 Friday evening in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s season opener at the Regional Recreation Complex.
Rayside-Balfour’s return to the NOJHL in a decade got off to a good start with Joel Lemay notching the game’s opening goal 11:20 into the contest.
The score stayed that until Ton’s effort in the frame while the Canadians’ Danny Lepage made it 3-0 at 8:48 of the third.
Espanola would dash Kevin Labelle’s shutout bid with 3:59 remaining as Ian Thompson supplied an unassisted effort to round things out offensively.
Labelle finished the night with 28 saves in earning the victory.
J.P. Sabourin put in a solid effort for Espanola making 31 stops in defeat for the Express.
The same two teams will meet again Saturday in Rayside-Balfour’s home opener at Chelmsford Arena in a 7 p.m. start.
