NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017
Resilient French River victorious in Iroquois Falls
IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – The French River Rapids got five points apiece from Will Frustaglio, Jordan Picard and Christian Gaudreau to help them snap a lengthy winless drought as they rallied to defeat the Iroquois Falls Eskis 8-6 Saturday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Just Jordan Arena.
Iroquois Falls got off to a great start as they took a 2-0 lead on a pair of Shadow Reuben markers.
Frustaglio got one back for the Rapids at 17:51 to make it a 2-1 game after 20 minutes.
The French River forward then tied it 19 seconds into the middle frame as he converted during a power play.
The back and forth affair then saw the two sides trade two tallies each later in the stanza with Jack Speer and Ryan Gruszka connecting for the Eskis and Alex Paul and Gaudreau countering for the Rapids.
Heading into the final frame, French River struck three times in the first half of the period with Picard scoring at even strength as well as Patrick Musico and Gaudreau during man advantage opportunities.
Reuben’s third of the night, 27th overall and fourth point on the evening cut into the deficit at 12:14 while Gruszka’s second of the game with 1:04 remaining brought Iroquois Falls back to within one.
However, William Michaud secured the road win for the Rapids with 31 seconds to go as he finished things off with an empty netter at 19:29.
Jacob Uridil had two assists for French Rive as did Josh Dejulio for Iroquois Falls.
Evan Peltier made 41 saves to record his first NOJHL victory.
Trevor Hawkes started for the Eskis and allowed six against on 31 attempts while Ty Sparling suffered the loss in relief as he allowed the game-winner among the five shots he faced in 12 minutes of work.
