Photos: Northern Exposures Photography
ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – Responding from a pair of two-goal deficits, the Elliot Lake Vikings rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Espanola Paper Kings Friday in their long-awaited return to home ice in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action, as part of a chippy affair at Rogers Arena.
An early power play helped visiting Espanola open the scoring just 1:13 into the proceedings when Kaden Wicklander put an attempt on target that Elliot Lake starter Jacob Kirstein stopped, but the rebound dropped to the ice, then hit the skate of Denver Mulligan and bounced into the net.
A two-man advantage then aided in another Paper Kings tally when Carter Drigo cranked in a one-timer from the top of the right circle after being teed up by Luka Boggio.
The Vikings then got on the board in the final moments of the first thanks to Jeremy Lamarche, who used a defender as a screen from the left wing and snapped a shot past Espanola goalkeeper Cameron Millar at 19:48.
Another extra-man effort put the Paper Kings back up by a pair in the second period when Drigo buried a shot from above the left circle.
Cutting into the deficit once more, Kieran Prichett answered that less than a minute later, while up a skater themselves, as he took a cross-ice feed from Mason Chapman and quickly whipped it in for his team-leading fourth of the season.
A goaltending change after that by Espanola saw Mason Janicki enter in long relief.
Up two skaters to begin the third, Elliot Lake had a solid chance to pull even, but Janicki and the Paper Kings’ defenders held firm.
However, the Vikings went right back on an extended power play where they drew level as defenceman Sloan Kroeker moved along the blueline before sending a shot that was redirected in by Dylan Waduck.
Still on the PP, the home side took their first lead of the night at 3:55 when Landen Lake-Rego went to the net off a shot and corralled his own rebound that he stuffed in.
Despite multiple man advantages for each club throughout the contest, Elliot Lake persevered to collect their initial win at home since September of 2023.
The Vikings are back at it Saturday as they host the Powassan Voodoos while the Paper Kings pay a visit to Pullar Stadium to meet the Soo Eagles.
