Nicholls gets shutout as Patriots blank Wingham

MOUNT FOREST – Marshall Nicholls stopped all 30 shots fired his way to pick up the shutout as the Mount Forest Patriots blanked the Wingham Ironmen 2-0 in Provincial Junior Hockey League play Saturday at the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex.

The shutout was the fourth of the season for Nicholls.

The Patriots scored both of their goals in the third period.

Matthew Weiler hit for a shorthanded goal five minutes into the period and league scoring leader Brody Leblanc added an empty-netter with 24 seconds to play. Leblanc also had an assist to raise his seasonal total to 91 points (45 goals) in 36 games. Cameron Lytle and Jaxon Gawel each also had an assist.

Wingham outshot the Patriots 30-29 and the Ironmen went 0-for-6 on their power play while the Patriots were scoreless on two power plays.

Garrett Golley had 27 saves for Wingham.

Mount Forest is second in the Pollock Division at 28-7-2-0 (W-L-OTL-T) while Wingham is sixth at 16-18-3-1.

The game was the first of three consecutive home games for the Patriots who are to host the Mitchell Hawks (seventh at 11-23-3-2) next Saturday at 8 p.m. and Goderich Flyers (eighth at 3-32-1-2) next Sunday at 2 p.m.

• Guelph Sports Journal