NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016
Lefebvre’s late goal gives Rayside-Balfour win over Espanola
CHELMSFORD, Ont. – Logan Lefebvre’s goal with just 12 seconds remaining in regulation helped the Rayside-Balfour Canadians rally for a narrow 2-1 victory over the Espanola Express Saturday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Chelmsford Arena.
After a scoreless opening period, Espanola scored midway through the second stanza on a Riley Nadeau marker.
Rayside-Balfour peppered Express netminder Logan Sawka with 27 shots through the first 40 minutes, but could not solve him.
The Canadians pumped another 19 on Sawka in the third and were finally rewarded with the equalizer at 16:52 thanks to Matthew Neault.
Then with overtime looming, Lefebvre provided the dramatics in the final moments to give Rayside-Balfour the win.
Owen Johansson faced 24 attempts in picking up the decision for the Canadians while Sawka suffered the hard-luck loss, despite a stellar 46-save performance.
