It was Elliot Lake Red Wings home opener Friday night in Centennial Arena, but the story in the building was Greater Sudbury Cubs goaltender Joel Rainville.
Rainville stopped all 52 shots he faced to register his Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) - leading second shutout of the season as the Cubs blanked the Red Wings 6-0.
Seth Coulter came through for four assists.
Cameron Walker opened the scoring as he ripped in a goal from the right circle 16 seconds into the first period for the victors.
Two minutes later, Billy Bierdermann got his first goal of the season, scoring from between the hash marks.
The Cubs got two more in the second period, seconds apart, thanks to Atley Gringorten.
His first marker came from the left side where he snapped a shot past Elliot Lake goaltender Nolan Chartrand.
Then backup goalie Ryder Gregga replaced Chartrand after Gringorten buried a cross-ice feed from Mathieu Morin to complete a two-on-one for goal number four.
The Cubs’ Walker clicked on the power play late in the period to give the guests a 5-0 lead after 40 minutes.
Next up in the third, Morin scored the Cubs’ sixth unsanswered goal at 8:47 to round out the scoring and complete a three-point night. He had a pair of earlier assists.
Chartrand faced 20 shots in defeat for the Red Wings. Gregga saved 16 of 17 in relief.
In other Friday night play, Espanola Express blanked Soo Eagles 4-0 at home, French River topped Kirkland Lake 3-2, Blind River Beavers edged Soo Thunderbirds 2-1, and Powassan Voodoos dumped Cochrane Crunch 5-1.
Next up, the Red Wings host the Soo Eagles Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at Centennial Arena.