Photos: Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – After building up a four-goal lead, the French River Rapids exchanged a couple of markers apiece the rest of the way to sink the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 6-2 in a penalty-filled Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest Friday at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
The visiting Rapids needed just 79 seconds to open the night’s scoring when Jonah Gareau and Michael Morascyzk powered their way to the net and saw Gareau get the last touch in stuffing one past Gold Miners’ Brian Rathwell.
Collecting an assist on the marker was French River captain Ralph Coulis who extended a point streak to six games.
Adding another off a face off win at 9:07, Jonah Gareau fired a shot off the draw that hit off centre Tristan Kitchen and changed direction and went high over the glove of Rathwell.
More from the Rapids saw an open Cole McGuire knock down an attempt from up high by teammate Jeremy Clark, then snap it in for his first NOJHL goal.
Action in the middle stanza saw the guests extend their edge in the latter stages of the session when they countered quickly in transition, which allowed Jake Giacoppi to send Armando Rojo Bolton in alone where he got enough of his chance to squeak it past Rathwell.
Kirkland Lake finally solved French River’s Keiran Caughran in the waning moments of the second thanks to Ethan Alexander, who spun in the corner and fired one towards the net that clipped off a skate of defender and in.
In the final frame, Giacoppi and Morascyzk both connected from close range to put the Rapids up 6-1 in eluding both Rathwell and back-up Jayden Claveau, who played the final 7:47 in relief.
A later power play marker off the stick of Gold Miners’ rookie Quinton Pagé capped off the scoring in the late going as he finished off a feed from down low from Addison St. Cyr for his first NOJHL goal.
