NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, August 26, 2016
French River wins preseason opener in double OT
ESPANOLA, Ont. – Christian Gaudreau’s second goal of the game, coming with 1:41 left in double overtime lifted the French River Rapids to a 6-5 victory over the Espanola Express Friday night in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League preseason play at the Espanola Regional Recreation Complex.
After French River jumped out to a 2-0 lead midway through the first period on markers by Gaudreau and Alex Paul, the Express came back with two of their own from Jason Bednarski and Aaron Roschunsky to level the proceedings at 2-2 after 20 minutes.
A pair of MacKenzie Aiken efforts put the home side up 4-2 in the second before Bernell Hughie got one back for French River via the power play with 7:46 left in the second.
The club’s then traded late tallies in the final minute of the period with Ian Robbie connecting for the Rapids and Patrick Smith countering for the Express.
The visitors forced extra time with their third man advantage marker of the night, which came off the stick of Brayden Crowe with 16:59 left in regulation.
After a scoreless first five-minute OT, Gaudreau won it for French River with the teams going three skaters aside.
Scott Adams turned in an impressive performance for the Rapids making 56 saves to register the win.
Logan Sawka made 17 stops on 21 attempts in a losing cause for Espanola after starter Logan Sawka kicked out 14 of 16 in just over 30 minutes of action.
The clubs will meet again Saturday in a neutral site affair in Sturgeon Falls at 7:30 p.m.
