Photo: Sam Hossack Media
SUDBURY, Ont. – The Espanola Paper Kings got two more tallies from Graydon Guthrie to help lead his side to a 5-2 victory over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Wednesday to commence Day 2 play at the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Showcase being held at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
Espanola kicked off the scoring at the end of a five-on-three midway through the first period when defenceman Aiden Pethick pumped a shot towards the target that was stopped by Kirkland Lake starter Nolan Nicoll, but Guthrie was there to bury the rebound for his NOJHL-leading ninth tally of the season.
Guthrie then became the first player in the league to reach double digits in terms of goals as he finished off a give-and-go with teammate Grant Booth 70 seconds into the middle frame.
The Paper Kings then went up by three during a lengthy power play as Nathan Marincola moved to the high slot and fired a low attempt through bodies that got by a screened Nicoll.
Pressuring a turnover late in the second, the Gold Miners got on the board at 19:08 as Inde Abresch stuffed a chance into the open side on Espanola goaltender Jack Helkie.
In the third, the Paper Kings added to their lead when Carter Drigo broke out of his own zone on an odd-man rush and after skating down the left wing fired a shot that looked to clip off the stick of a defender and sail into the top corner past Nicoll at 8:47.
Abresch then added another for Kirkland Lake right after that by banging in a rebound off a Kai Clayton attempt from the left side.
The penalty-filled contest saw Espanola secure the victory with a mid-ice empty netter from Kaden Wicklander in the latter stages to wrap things up.
