Special teams lifts Elliot Lake past Espanola

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATERelease Date: Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015

Special teams lifts Elliot Lake past Espanola

ESPANOLA – The Elliot Lake scored three times on the power play to help them defeat the Espanola Express 5-1 Saturday afternoon in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League preseason match-up at the Espanola Regional Recreation Complex.

Troy Murray staked the visitors to the lead by notching the lone tally of the first period, which came midway through the session.

Elliot Lake’s first man advantage marker of the day came at 15:22 of the second off the stick of Patrick Smith to make it 2-0 after 40 minutes.

The Wildcats added another on the power play 23 seconds into the third on a Nathan Campbell effort.

Up a man, Espanola’s Barry Pitawanakwat dashed Elliot Lake starter Aaron MacKay’s shutout bid with 6:42 remaining.

However Spencer Allan made it 4-1 two and a half minutes later via the man advantage before Wildcats defenceman Campbell capped off the scoring with his second of the contest at 17:42.

Ismael Dumerius and Spencer MacLean both added two assists each to aid the winners offensively.

Shots on goal favoured Elliot Lake 42-34 with MacKay registering the win while Mitchell Jones suffered the loss.