Photos: Cassy Seguin
FRENCH RIVER – A Mason Brownlee shorthanded breakaway goal with 1:18 remaining in regulation was the difference maker as the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners pulled out a 3-2 triumph over the French River Rapids Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter at Noelville Arena.
Kirkland Lake took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission as they converted on a late power play.
The tally saw Evan Snyder take a pass from Brendon Hammer, skate into the slot and rip it by French River netminder Carter Vicente at 17:36.
Moving to the second stanza, Snyder supplied another past the midway mark of the contest as he opted to shoot on a two-on-one and wired it in from the right circle.
Getting on the board, via a penalty shot, the Rapids’ Hunter Vilanez skated in slowly on his attempt before ripping a shot low blocker side on Gold Miners’ goalkeeper Matis Bureau-Morel at 17:38.
Tying it up in his NOJHL debut, Tucker Roberts drew French River even three and a half minutes into the third as he roofed a Joey Stiles backhand on a two-man break.
Providing the late game-winner, Brownlee blocked a shot in his own zone with his club down a man and raced in on a breakaway and lifted his chance over the shoulder of Vicente.
The Rapids pushed to tie it and send it to overtime, but the Gold Miners shut the door defensively to collect the road victory.
With the result, Kirkland Lake moves to 2-13-0-2 on the campaign while the late setback sees French River fall to 4-8-0-2.
