NEWS

The Paris Mounties used a sparkling performance by Zach Shomphe to take down the Norwich Merchants, as the netminder did not allow a goal in Paris' 7-0 shutout victory.

The Mounties got the win thanks to a great game by Ryan Stephenson, who had one goal and two assists. Stephenson scored 6:39 into the first period to make the score 1-0 Paris. Vincent Robbins assisted on the tally.

Paris put up an impenetrable defensive front on the penalty kill, and did not allow Norwich to score on any of its nine power plays. The Mounties kept the Merchants' goalie busy throughout the game, and Andrew Hawkins made 30 saves on 37 shots. Paris outdid its season average for goals scored. The Mounties average 4.6 goals per game. Paris was forced to rely heavily on their penalty kill unit throughout the game, as it racked up 40 penalty minutes.

Paris also got points from Jacob Norcott, who also grabbed one goal and one assist, Richard Brooks, who also had two goals and one assist, and Austin Kovrig, who also racked up one goal and one assist. Others who scored for Paris included Brady Wheelans and Brodie Smith, who each put in one. Other players who recorded assists for Paris were Griffin Heitshu, who had three and Austin Sine, Brett Wilson, and Patrick Snell, who each chipped in one.

Norwich was often in penalty trouble, totaling eight minors and one major for 31 minutes in penalty time. The Merchants had been averaging 22.0 minutes in penalties per game. Norwich could not produce up to its normal offensive output. The Merchants put an average of 3.1 pucks into the net per game. Norwich's offense rang up 36 shots on the Mounties' net.

Paris' Shomphe stopped 36 shots out of the 36 that he faced. The Mounties registered four goals on eight power play opportunities. For the Merchants, Matt Dipaolo and Ray Munro were ejected from the contest.