SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Hearst Lumberjacks goaltender Rahul Bola made 16 stops, including some impressive saves at close range, to backstop his side to a 4-0 victory over the Espanola Express Tuesday afternoon in Day 1 play of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Showcase at Big Bear Arena.
Neither side would connect in the opening stanza, which ended up scoreless.
Action in the second period though was all Lumberjacks as they struck four times to take control on the contest.
Tallies 40 seconds apart early in the session helped send Hearst on their way as Alex Cannon connected at even strength while Gabriel Jean-George converted on the power play.
Up a skater later again later in the frame, Max Griffioen put the Lumberjacks up by three at 14:37 before Jake Desando capped off the outburst, wiring one from the slot, in what turned out to be the day’s final marker.
Express starter Joel Rainville faced 39 attempts in defeat.