HEARST, Ont. – Spencer Silver struck for a pair of first period goals as part an eventual 5-3 decision giving the Hearst Lumberjacks their fifth Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League win in a row in defeating the Espanola Express Friday in front of 707 fans at Claude Larose Arena.
A free-wheeling frame saw the two teams score six times as they hit the initial intermission knotted at 3-3.
The contest was actually scoreless nine minutes into the contest before the offensive outburst began with the six markers being notched in less than a 10-minute span.
Beginning the scoring was Espanola’s Cameron Walker as his third of the year put the visitors on the board at 9:02.
Countering, Hearst tallied twice a few shifts apart on efforts supplied by Silver and Nick Bruno.
After Mattias Salem drew the Express level at 16:49, Silver scored 29 seconds later to put the hosts back on top.
However, Espanola capped off the high-scoring session in the final moments of the stanza compliments of Cole Delarosbil’s equalizer.
In the second period, the lone marker there came off the stick of Jake Desando, who supplied the eventual game-winner at 1:49.
Play tightened up defensively from there before the Lumberjacks rounded out the evening’s scoring in the final minute of regulation when Alex Cannon clicked on the power play at 19:34 to help secure the victory.
Hearst starter Liam Oxner made 26 saves to record the victory while Espanola’s Joel Rainville faced 31 attempts in defeat.
Game Photos courtesy of Marianka Cantin
