Photos: Northern Lights Photography
HEARST, Ont. – The Hearst Lumberjacks saw Mathieu Comeau pick up a goal and assist on three others in leading them to a 6-1 victory over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at Claude Larose Recreation Centre.
The visiting Gold Miners struck first as Benjamin Armatage pulled up in the Hearst zone then spotted a wide-open Christian Genova going to the net who skated in and put one through the pads of Lumberjacks starter Ethan Dinsdale at 2:31.
Drawing level in the latter stages of the opening period, Comeau put a pass on the tape of Andrew Morton on the right side who fired a shot high over the glove Kirkland Lake netminder Braydon Garnhart for his fifth of the campaign.
Up a skater early in the middle stanza, Hearst took the lead thanks to Mason Svarich whipping in a one-timer off a cross-ice feed from Comeau.
The Lumberjacks then extended their edge seven minutes into the second when Benjamin Thornley-Hall collected his first NOJHL goal by beating Garnhart short-side from the side boards.
On the man advantage late in the second, Hearst went up by three as Kirkland Lake could not clear the puck out of their zone, which gave Morton the opportunity to set-up an un-marked Comeau in the slot who in turn buried one, blocker side, for his third point of the night.
Helping secure the victory in the final frame, Tyler Patterson picked off a clearing attempt and fed Zachary Demers alone in front where he slid a low backhand through the legs of Garnhart at 3:23.
Finishing off the night’s scoring in the final moments, Svarich broke free on a shorthanded breakaway and scored to wrap things up.
The same two teams meet again Saturday in a 7 p.m. start back in Hearst and on HockeyTV.com.