ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – Elliot Lake Wildcats goaltender Parker Simpson stopped all 31 shots he faced Thursday to post his first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League shutout while his teammates picked up a trio of third period tallies to blank the visiting Espanola Express 3-0 in a battle of netminders at Centennial Arena.
The opening frame saw Elliot Lake press the pace, but Espanola starter Jacob Hutchings was solid handling all 15 shots fired his way in the session while the Wildcats’ Simpson was also equal to the task stopping all eight attempts he saw.
Moving into the second stanza, both goalkeepers were once again solid in keeping the contest scoreless through 40 minutes.
The home side would eventually get on the board at 3:25 of the third period when Leejay Meguinis notched his first goal of the season to put Elliot Lake in front.
Jacob Kelly added to the Wildcats lead less than four minutes later as he supplied his third of the campaign.
Elliot Lake added some insurance with 8:12 left in regulation while shorthanded, compliments of Nick Long’s man-down marker to round out the scoring.
As for Hutchings, he was solid despite the defeat for the Express as he saw 52 shots against, including 22 in the final frame, on the night.
Photo credit: Joanne Grise
