Mayhew posts 1st NOJHL shutout as Canadians blank Wildcats

CHELMSFORD, Ont. – Matty Mayhew turned aside all 27 shots he faced to record his first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League shutout as the Rayside-Balfour Canadians blanked the Elliot Lake Wildcats 3-0 Thursday at Chelmsford Arena.

It didn’t take the Canadians long to get the jump on the Wildcats as Tristan Simm picked up his initial tally of the campaign just 55 seconds into the contest.

The scored stayed that way until past the eight and a half minute mark of the middle stanza when Matthew Neault extended the Rayside-Balfour cushion with his seventh goal of the season during a man advantage opportunity.

Teammate Kyle Liinamaa added another for the home side at 14:26 of the frame as the Canadians went up by three through two periods of play.

Mayhew and the Rayside-Balfour defensive corps did the rest to keep Elliot Lake off the scoresheet in posting the shutout win.

Allan Menary was busy in the Wildcats net as he faced 46 attempts in defeat.

With the result, the NOJHL West Division-leading Canadians improved 15-5-0-1 on the season while Elliot Lake slipped to 9-15-0-1 overall.

Photos courtesy of Rob and Caleigh Fera:  www.sudburylight.ca