ESPANOLA, Ont. – The Elliot Lake Wildcats trio of Evan Spencer, Jacob Kelly and William Bucsis combined for nine first period points while goaltender Logan Sawka posted a 35-save shutout Thursday evening as part of a 4-0 triumph over the Espanola Express in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair at the Regional Recreation Complex.
The Wildcats offensive trio all contributed in a three-goal outburst under five minutes apart in the opening frame that helped send Elliot Lake on their way.
Spencer scored two of those goals after Kelly opened the proceedings while Bucsis assisted on all three tallies.
The visitors extended their lead early in the middle frame as Ryan Burlington connected 57 seconds in as he picked up his second of the season with assists going to Brennan Ireland and David Elford.
Sawka did the rest from there as his efforts between the pipes kept Espanola off the scoresheet to register his first NOJHL shutout.
The three assists for Bucsis gives him 27 on the season, which ties him for the second-most in the league, while Spencer’s 46 points put him second in the NOJHL.
Express goaltender Adam Scott faced 29 attempts in a losing cause.
