Iroquois Falls edges Espanola in Polar Bear Classic opener

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Thursday, September 1, 2016

Iroquois Falls edges Espanola in Polar Bear Classic opener

COCHRANE, Ont. – The Iroquois Falls Eskis got a goal along with an assist on the game-winner from Sam Vigneux to help them edge the Espanola Express 5-4 Thursday in Game 1 of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League’s Polar Bear Classic preseason tournament at the Tim Horton Event Centre in Cochrane.

Iroquois Falls got things going offensively with the lone tally of the opening frame as Jack Speer struck at 12:21 of the period.

After Keegan McNaulty tied it for the Express, 3:45 into the second, Dillan Bruce put the Eskis back on top a couple shifts later.

Iroquois Falls kept coming as they notched two more before the stanza was complete thanks to late efforts provided by Vigneux and Shadow Reuben.

Espanola got back in it in the third striking twice in a 51-second span as Patrick Smith and Brennan Revell found the mark in rapid succession.

Liam Flemming countered for the Eskis with 12:04 remaining with the eventual difference maker before Nathan Viberg rounded out the scoring for Espanola at 8:42.

Jake Herrberg dished out two assists to aid the offensive cause for Iroquois Falls.

Shots on goal in the contest favoured the Eskis by a 48-40 count with Trevor Hawkes picking up the win in net and Logan Sawka the loss.