Photos: Justin Cairns
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Espanola Paper Kings’ captain Cameron Menard continued his torrid start to the season by scoring for a 10th consecutive game as part of the 3-2 road win over the Soo Eagles Saturday night in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League meeting at Pullar Stadium.
A shot block in their own zone allowed Sault Ste. Marie to counter quickly and get the game’s initial tally when a Nolan Nemecek pass up ice to Dominic Cicco led a three-man break and saw him fire a shot off the stick of Espanola starter Logan Vale that flipped up and over the netminder and into the net for the lone marker of the first period, which came at 18:07.
In the second stanza, the more than impressive goal-scoring streak by Menard reached double digits, a couple of minutes in, as he raced in alone down the left wing and neatly tucked a low backhand between the legs of Eagles’ starter Jace Knoerle.
The visitors then went in front near the midway mark of matchup as Carter Drigo connected by finishing off a crisp passing play with Joseph Coates and Menard.
Coates’ helper saw him run a point streak to 10 in a row, joining Menard.
Countering quickly, the Soo drew level at 11:11 after controlling a draw as Nemecek whipped in a nice feed by C.J. Zaharias from the right point while stationed in the slot.
Heading to the final frame, Espanola retook the lead seven and a half minutes in when Cain Savage wired in a spinning back pass from Callum Millar, who began the play with a shot block that led to a two-on-one.
Pressing hard right to the end, as they did all evening, the Eagles pushed hard for an equalizer to get it to overtime, but the efforts of Vale nullified the rest of the chances they had to earn him the victory.
Next up in league play will be the NOJHL Showcase, Tuesday and Wednesday at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury, and on FLOHockey.tv
