TIMMINS, Ont. – A Mavrik Chan-Miguel marker nearly three minutes into overtime proved to be the decider as the Hearst Lumberjacks outlasted the Timmins Rock 5-4 for their 10th consecutive Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League victory Monday in front of a Family Day matinee crowd of 1,200-plus spectators at McIntyre Arena.
Hearst captain Mathieu Comeau opened the scoring on the afternoon’s initial power play when he guided in a rebound from close range off a Ty McKay chance after a pass put in front via Chase Thompson, who had reached the 200-point plateau in his NOJHL career last week.
Still 1-0 Lumberjacks into the middle stanza, Timmins tied it when Maxx Hamelin snagged a bouncing puck in the neutral zone and raced into the Hearst zone and finished off a quick give-and-go with Nolan Masson in eluding goalkeeper Jack Helkie.
The visitors came right back to regain the lead just over a minute later as Cameron Menard neatly redirected in an attempt put to the target by McKay from the right circle that bounced down off the ice and back up over the shoulder of netminder Ayden Mullen and in.
Answering with another equalizer at 10:51, the Rock quickly countered in transition that led to Ryan Armitage redirecting in a pass put in front off the stick of Lucas Lowe.
Going back on top during a man advantage, Menard notched his second of the day and NOJHL-leading 39th tally with a tip in off a Comeau blast from up high.
Action in the final frame, saw the Rock come back to level the proceedings once more when Hamelin wheeled in behind the Lumberjacks’ net put a play to the top of the crease that Matteo Paradiso quickly swatted in at 6:42.
Hearst however had an answer to that a couple of shifts later with Nathan Seed knocking one in near the goal line off a Kadin Bilajbegovic set-up.
The back and forth affair saw Timmins pull even yet again midway through the third as Diego Da Silva swiped the puck off a defender and went to the middle where he snapped a shot that eluded Helkie to help send it to OT.
In the extra session, the Lumberjacks secured the victory when Menard led a rush up along the side boards and found an open Chan-Miguel alone in front where he promptly whipped in the game-winner to end it.
In extending their streak to double digits, Hearst raised their overall record to 31-8-0-3.
The Rock did collect a point in defeat but dropped their fifth straight and fell to 30-11-0-3.
Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
