TIMMINS, Ont. – A trio of late goals, including a pair deep into the second period, helped the Hearst Lumberjacks go on to defeat the Timmins Rock 4-2 Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action in front of 1,024 spectators at McIntyre Arena.
It was the visiting Lumberjacks that struck first as Maddoc Newton found himself getting past the Rock defence, then took an up-ice feed from Adam Boucher before darting in alone and snapping a shot into the upper left-hand corner on netminder Patrick Boivin.
Picking up an equalizer just before the opening frame came to a close, Timmins broke out in numbers and saw Harry Clark send a perfect cross-ice pass over to a hard-charging Kaeden McArthur, who quickly whipped in his fourth goal of the young season.
The Rock then took the lead in the second period, via the power play, as Liam Wells steered in a close-range feed from Nolan Ring that got by Russ Decoste in the Hearst net.
Getting a late tying tally of their own, the Lumberjacks drew level at 17:10 as a bouncing puck pinballed off of Liam Boswell and into the net.
Not done there, Hearst came right back and added another before the second intermission, thanks to Owen Hey lifting one over a sprawled Boivin from the top of the blue paint.
In the third, it remained 3-2 until the late going, when after a point-blank save by Decoste to keep his team in front, the Lumberjacks’ Adam Shillinglaw iced it with a long-range, shorthanded, empty netter to cap off the road triumph.
The same two teams will meet again Sunday afternoon in Hearst, with a 4 p.m. start at the Claude Larose Recreation Centre.
Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel
