ESPANOLA, Ont. – Three early goals and the shutout goaltending of Gavin McCarthy was a perfect combination Friday as the Timmins Rock handled the Espanola Express 4-0 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at the Regional Recreation Complex.
Timmins needed less than a minute to strike in the match-up as Tyler Gilberds put the visitors up early after he redirected an Eric Moreau effort from the right point.
Midway through the first, the Rock added another on a Bode Dunford shot as his attempt from up high fooled Espanola starter Dylan Kosik from long range.
They then came right back and tacked on another moments later compliments of Henry Brock, who finished off a nice rush into the Express zone by captain Tyler Schwindt.
Espanola’s back-up netminder Vaughn LeDrew from there and went the rest of the way for the home side.
Second period action saw Timmins carry a large shot advantage, but could not solve LeDrew in the session, but carried their 3-0 lead into the intermission.
A fourth Rock marker did eventually come halfway into the third as they broke in on an odd-man rush and saw Riley Brousseau neatly pick the corner off a snap shot from the left circle.
McCarthy did the rest for his second shutout of the season as he was credited with 27 saves.
Kosik suffered the loss while LeDrew was solid in nearly 50 minutes of relief, allowing just the one against on 33 chances.
