NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014
39-save shutout for Wagner as Eskimos blank Gold Miners
IROQUOIS FALLS – Abitibi Eskimos netminder Brody Wagner stopped all 39 shots he faced, including 31 in the final 40 minutes, while Erik Robichaud notched a hat-trick to lead their side to a 4-0 victory over the visiting Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Tuesday evening in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Jus Jordan Arena.
The hometown Eskimos jumped out to 3-0 lead after one period of play getting a pair of tallies from Robichaud and a single from David Becker, which spelled the end of Kirkland Lake starter Jeremy Pominville’s night.
Robichaud then capped off his three-goal performance with a shorthanded effort on Kenny Fitzgerald 8:02 into the middle frame in what turned out to be the final marker of the night.
It was Wagner’s turn to do the rest as he was stellar kicking out all 15 attempts he saw in the middle stanza and 16 more in the final frame to record his first NOJHL shutout.
Ryan Tront also chipped in with a pair of assists to aid the Abitibi cause as they fired 28 pucks at the Kirkland Lake goaltenders.
With the win the Eskimos improve to 19-14-0-2 on the season while the Gold Miners dropped to 27-6-0-2.
NOJHL play resumes Wednesday as the Blind River Beavers pay a visit to McClelland Arena in Copper Cliff to take on the Sudbury Nickel Barons at 7:30 p.m.
Later this week league play also features the NOJHL Showcase Friday and Saturday in Espanola with all eight member clubs competing starting with the Rivermen hosting the Elliot Lake Bobcats in a 7:30 p.m. start at the Espanola Regional Recreation Complex.
