NOTL team follows up Friday's shutout with a 6-2 win on the road

Kevan Dowd
Special to The Lake Report

The Jr. A Niagara Predators were two-for-two to kick off the Thanksgiving weekend, with back-to-back wins over the Tottenham Thunder in Greater Metro Hockey League action.

After shutting out the Thunder 5-0 in Virgil on Friday night, the Predators added a 6-2 win on the road on Saturday evening.

Niagara's goaltenders were the first stars in both games, with Oskar Spinnars Nordin turning aside all 61 shots he faced Friday and William Fagemo stopping 53 shots on Saturday.

Captain Mario Zitella led the way again Saturday with two goals, while Dante Massi added a goal and two assists. Alex Insulander, Jesper Eriksson and Emil Eriksson rounded out the scoring.

On Friday night at Virgil's Meridian Credit Union Arena the Predators got off to a strong start, with 32 shots on goal resulting in a three-goal lead by the end of the first period for Niagara.

Defenceman Brett Lee kicked things off with an unassisted goal after just six minutes of play, with forwards Jesper Eriksson and Gino Carter-Squire adding the second and third markers less than two minutes apart.

The second period saw Insulander netting the Predators’ fourth goal of the game followed by Massi putting one past Tottenham starting goaltender Jack Boudreau for the fifth and final tally.

Tottenham managed to keep the puck out of their net for the rest of the second and entire third period but was unable to get on the scoreboard.

“Other than we were outshot two of the three periods, I think we were doing the right things,” said Predators head coach Andrew Whalen.

“I think we got a little over passing at times. We just have to create some of those tendencies for some of the stronger teams. Other than that, I thought it was a good evening out for the boys.”

The Predators, now 3-1 on the season, have a rematch this Friday night with the St. George Ravens, the only team to beat them so far. Game time in Virgil is 7:30 p.m.