IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – Collecting multiple points from both Simon Lemieux and Matys Lefebvre helped the Iroquois Falls Storm down the French River Rapids 5-2 Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Jus Jordan Arena.
The Storm struck early in the contest when Lefebvre picked off a clearing attempt at the Rapids blueline, then went in on the left side where he fired a shot that was stopped by French River netminder Calvin Gardner, but the rebound went right to Benjamin Mikan, who knocked in his first NOJHL tally, 2:21 in.
More from Iroquois Falls four minutes later saw Darius Kalantgis extend the home side’s cushion with his opening goal of the campaign.
Building on that, Lemieux made it 3-0 with a power play marker to put the hosts further ahead at 11:29.
Despite a goaltending change after that, the onslaught continued a few shifts later as Lemieux powered his way into the Rapids zone with speed on the left wing, before driving hard to net and notching his second of the period by beating back-up William Popik.
With Gardner back in to begin the second period, French River got one back via the power play off an odd-man rush that resulted in Quinn Habermehl putting one off the pad Keenan Connely, which allowed Jonathan Tripodi to pump in his first NOJHL goal at 6:42.
More from the Rapids just over five minutes later saw Leif Sigfusson connect with his opening NOJHL marker as he forced a turnover at his own blueline and raced in alone on a breakaway and neatly tucked a backhand through the legs of Connely.
Going back up by three early in the third, Jason Cyr rounded out the scoring by lifting in a backhand while moving across the crease at 1:54, in a feisty final frame.
The result gives Iroquois Falls their first victory of the season, going to 1-2-1-0 while French River falls to 0-4-0-0.
