NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013
Eskimos strike late to take NOJHL season opener
SUDBURY – A Brady Clouthier goal with just 2:56 remaining was the difference as the Abitibi Eskimos rallied to slip past the Sudbury Nickel Barons 3-2 Wednesday evening in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s season opener at McClelland Arena in Copper Cliff.
Special teams allowed Sudbury to open the scoring eight minutes into the contest as Guillaume Rheault connected on the power play for his first tally in the NOJHL.
The visiting Eskimos would pull level however before the first period was complete as Zach Innes scored at 12:31.
The lone effort of the middle stanza came early off the stick of the Nickel Barons’ Khadyn Butterfly as he notched a man advantage marker at 2:44.
Abitibi levelled the proceedings at the 4:50 mark of the final frame with Ryan Tront striking on the power play.
That set the stage for Clouthier’s game-winner as he finished off the work Kealy Cummings and Brennan Roy, who both picked up their second assist of the night.
Sylvain Miron made 35 saves to pick-up the victory in net for the Eskimos while Andrew Lefebvre faced 27 shots in a losing cause for Sudbury.
NOJHL action resumes Friday with Kirkland Lake at home to Espanola, Blind River visiting Elliot Lake and Sault Ste. Marie welcoming North Bay in a trio of 7:30 p.m. starts.
