Photos: Northern Exposures Photography
MASSEY, Ont. – The Hearst Lumberjacks got shutout goaltending from Russ Decoste as part of an eventual 7-0 win over the Elliot Lake Vikings in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Saturday night at the Massey & District Community Arena.
A turnover deep in the Elliot Lake end helped Hearst get on the board at 8:51 with Damien Bourdon-Lemoyne scoring from the slot on Vikings netminder Braydon Garnhart.
The Lumberjacks then went up by a pair in the second stanza when Maddoc Newton had a couple of cracks in close by lifting in his 11th of the season while battling at the top of the crease.
Adam Shillinglaw then sent a rising shot from up top that eluded a screened Garnhart to see Hearst click on a man advantage.
The guests added another when a Will Robinson attempt from the slot hit off an Elliot Lake defender and bounced in.
Putting the game away midway through the third, Liam Boswell dished off a backhand to Noah Janicki, who then roofed his chance.
Adam Boucher then sent an attempt through a screen from the point moments later to give the visitors a sixth tally on the night.
Adding a seventh, Shillinglaw spun into the middle of the ice and neatly picked the left corner with a nice snap shot to wrap-up the scoring.
The shutout for Decoste was his third of the season in helping the Lumberjacks improve to 33-15-4-2.
With the setback, the Vikings fell to 5-45-1-4.
