Photos: Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – Answering back from a two-goal deficit, the Espanola Paper Kings countered with four unanswered tallies to defeat the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 4-2 Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
Looking to continue their strong start to the season, the Gold Miners notched the night’s initial marker in the latter stages of the first period.
It started when Ethan Alexander was sent in alone on a breakaway where he was stymied twice in quick succession by Paper Kings’ netminder Jack Helkie, but Ricky Wilson was right there to collect the rebound and deposit a backhand for his first NOJHL goal.
Moving to the middle frame, Kirkland Lake extended their lead at 12:14 compliments of Aaron Leenaars who powered his way down the left wing and while driving hard to the net zipped a shot into the bottom right corner on Helkie.
With a chance to get one back, Espanola was awarded a penalty shot that saw Emerson Di Giacomo come in slowly on his opportunity and saw his attempt denied by the blocker of Brian Rathwell in the Gold Miners’ net.
The Paper Kings did connect just after that however thanks to Cameron Menard, who notched his fifth of the campaign by tipping in a Tyler Thompson wrister from the right side.
Action in the third period saw Espanola come out hard as they connected twice in the first six and a half minutes to take a 3-2 lead.
Noah Logan’s first tied it at 3:48 when he lifted one in through traffic from the left point.
Owen Smith then put the guests on top by roofing a puck in close that Rathwell could not control off a dump in.
Building on that, the Paper Kings clicked once more as they generated a turnover that allowed Colton Loiselle to eventually snap a shot that leaked through Rathwell.
That proved to complete the scoring as the visitors skated away with the triumph on the road.
