Photos: Northern Lights Photography
HEARST, Ont. – A Kaden McArthur marker, nearly two minutes in overtime, completed the comeback as the Timmins Rock rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Hearst Lumberjacks 3-2 Thursday night in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at Claude Larose Recreation Centre.
A scoreless opening frame saw the initial 20 minutes end without a goal, that featured a point-blank pad save by Timmins netminder Patrick Boivin midway through the session.
In the second stanza, Hearst converted early to take the lead when Tyler Patterson neatly redirected in a rising point shot from Adam Boucher for his ninth goal of the season, which gave him points in four straight.
It was more from Patterson midway through the period as he took a back pass from Josh Russell behind the goal line in the right circle and whipped in his second of the evening for his 50th NOJHL tally.
Timmins trimmed the deficit late in the frame during a man advantage as Liam Wells tipped in a Felix Cadieux-Fredette shot from inside the blueline while parked in from of Lumberjacks netminder Tristan Boileau at 18:08.
The marker for Wells, along with the second assist, that went to Harry Clark, saw both Rock skaters extend point streaks to five for each of the them.
In the third, the Rock tied it with 2:26 remaining in regulation, after Hearst could not clear the zone off a face off, which eventually resulted in Nolan Ring banking in the equalizer off the pad of Boileau from a sharp angle along the right side of the net.
Heading to OT, McArthur won it as he corralled the puck along the end boards and worked his way out along the side wall, before powering his way to the slot where he fired in the game-winner through the legs of Hearst goalkeeper to end it.
The victory sees Timmins improve to 7-6-1-0 in the triumph, while the Lumberjacks picked up a point in falling to 6-7-1-1 on the year.
