KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – It was a night of firsts for the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Saturday as they rode the shutout goaltending of netminder Ryan Winter to blank the French River Rapids 3-0 Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
After a scoreless opening frame, Kirkland Lake struck twice via special teams in the middle stanza to go up by a pair after 40 minutes.
Declan Carter started things off for the Gold Miners as his man advantage effort 76 seconds into the session proved to be the game-winner.
The home side then got another while shorthanded 12:08 into the frame to extend their cushion compliments of Gabriel Rheault.
They then got some insurance courtesy of Max Cavallini at even strength midway through the third to round out the night’s scoring.
William Mizuik dished out two assists to aid the Gold Miners’ offensive cause.
The decision was the club’s first win of the season and was also Winter’s first league triumph and shutout with the Gold Miners picking up the opening victory for new head coach and general manager Ryan Wood.
Winter finished with 24 saves overall while Jean-Marc Brisson saw 29 shots fired his way in defeat for French River.