TIMMINS, Ont. – The Timmins Rock built up a three-goal lead into third period, then withstood a comeback attempt by the French River Rapids before eventually prevailing 3-2 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Friday at McIntyre Arena.
Despite a big 14-2 edge in shots in the opening frame, Timmins could not solve French River starter Cole Sheffield.
In the middle session though, the Rock finally beat him midway through while on the power play as Bode Dunford put a shot on net that was stopped, but Henry Brock was right there to chip in the rebound from the top of the crease.
Adding another, the home side broke out in numbers as Justin Charette cruised down the right wing and calmly cruised towards mid-ice before ripping one into the top corner for his sixth tally of the campaign.
A third goal in the period saw Tyler Schwindt finish with a tap in into the open side as he buried a cross-crease feed from Nicolas Pigeon.
The final frame saw French River’s Hayden Williamson enter to man the net for the Rapids.
They then got on the board near the three-minute mark as Chase Lefebvre put a feed in front, after Chase Thompson pressured a turnover, and found Leo Chambers who lifted his seventh of the year high over the Rock’s Gavin McCarthy.
Continuing to battle, the visitors then made it 3-2 with 13:14 to go as Cooper Bowman banked one in from behind the goal line to give him tallies in three straight and points in seven in succession.
However, Timmins held firm the rest of the way and held on for the victory to pick up their NOJHL-leading 17th triumph of the season.
The Rock’s McCarthy got the win, while the Rapids’ Sheffield suffered the loss allowing three on 25 attempts with Williamson turning aside all eight chances he saw in relief.
Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
