Paper Kings puck stopper
James Meredith has shrugged off a rough introduction to his rookie season in the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League to become a go to goalie for the Espanola Paper Kings.
Meredith has been a standout for the Paper Kings in the 2025 segment of the NOJHL regular season schedule with several eye popping performances between the pipes that have included wins over the Soo Thunderbirds, Timmins Rock and the league leading Sudbury Cubs.
Meredith’s many moments of excellence for Espanola in January include a 34 save, 2-0 shutout win over the Thunderbirds, 36 saves in a 5-2 triumph over Timmins and an incredible 57 save sizzler in a 4-2 victory over Sudbury that was the first loss for the Cubs in more than two months.
With a 2007 birth date and an eighth round pick by the North Bay Battalion from the Toronto Nationals of the Greater Toronto Hockey League at the 2023 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, the 6 foot 1, 165 pound Meredith is the second youngest goalie in the entire NOJHL.
Meredith, who allowed 16 goals in 159 minutes of play through his first three appearances — all losses — with Espanola to begin this ’24-25 season, has since rebounded in fine fashion. As of this writing, Meredith has a record of 8-8-1 with an .893 save percentage, 4.14 goals against average and two shutouts.
Sault Ste. Marie resident Bill Vanderleest, who is the ageless and time honoured goalie coach for the Paper Kings, has been preaching patience relative to Meredith all season. And Vanderleest took note of the young goalie’s recent rise to prominence.
“James is stepping up just when the team needs him most in our push to make the playoffs,” Vanderleest relayed to Hockey News North. “He is playing a calm and composed game … making huge saves at key times … keeping us in games … stealing games… lifting his teammates up. Right now, he is doing exactly what a goaltender needs to do to help his team achieve success.”
That’s my Bunky grooming another goalie !!!!!!!!!!!