Photos: Northern Lights Photography
HEARST, Ont. – A four-goal first period proved to be enough as the Hearst Lumberjacks picked up their first win of the season as they went on to handle the Iroquois Falls Storm 9-3 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Friday at the Claude Larose Recreation Centre.
The hometown Lumberjacks began the scoring five minutes into the proceedings when they picked off a clearing attempt in the neutral zone that led to Luc Warner placing a nifty feed to the top of the crease where Owen Kahl lifted a backhand over the pad of Storm starter Keenan Connely.
Iroquois Falls came back to tie at 9:29 when they moved into the Hearst end and saw Emmett Schipprack skate into the right circle and send a low shot along the ice through the legs of goalkeeper Jack Helkie for his initial NOJHL tally.
Countering a couple of shifts later, Cameron Menard put the hosts back on top as he snapped in a loose puck off a rebound put to the net from the right point by Royce Abraham.
More from the Lumberjacks made it 3-1 at 14:11 as Terence Levasseur jammed in a loose puck laying along the goal line following a Dylan Westmann between the legs effort.
Responding quickly, Alexandre St. Pierre brought the guests back to within one as he was sent in alone off a lengthy play put up ice and while racing in, tucked his chance through the five-hole of Helkie.
The goal-filled period saw Hearst take a 4-2 lead into the first intermission as Westmann chipped in a close range chance off a setup from Levasseur.
Action in the second stanza saw the teams exchange tallies late as the Lumberjacks carried their two-goal cushion into the final frame.
Menard collected his second of the night at 16:39 by roofing a backhand from in close.
Niko Lessard got that back for Iroquois Falls just over a minute later when he finished off the leftovers after a Karter Buchmann attempt from up top.
In the third, Levasseur helped secure the home ice victory by lifting one up high to complete a two-on-one with Westmann at 1:16.
Helping wrap-up the result, Warner snagged a loose puck at the Storm blueline and darted in alone before wiring in a shot.
Then, a breakaway away goal from Hearst captain Julien Trudel completed the romp in the final minute.
