ESPANOLA, Ont. – A three-goal night from Cameron Menard helped the Espanola Paper Kings defeat the French River Rapids 7-2 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League matchup Friday at the Regional Recreation Complex.
The Paper Kings began the scoring 3:20 into the first period when Luc Warner put a play across through two Rapids’ defenders to Menard who then snapped a shot past French River starter Keiran Caughran.
More from the Paper Kings two minutes later saw Callum Miller power his way down the right wing, then cut hard to the net that he took wide and tucked the puck past the pad of Caughran.
French River got one back early in the middle stanza on Braydon Wilson-Schoer’s first NOJHL tally as he made a nice move coming down the right wing and firing a shot through Espanola’s Logan Vale.
Countering quickly, Jason Galante restored the two-goal cushion after picking off a play in his own zone then flying down the ice on a breakaway before moving right and scoring.
They then went up 4-1 after controlling a draw that led to Carter Makasoff sending a rising wrister from the left point that sailed in from distance.
More from the Paper Kings featured Owen Smith ripping one high blocker side from the left circle during a man advantage to add to their lead.
French River pulled closer just over eight minutes into the third when Jake Giacoppi took a play to his right and snapped the puck over the glove of Vale to give him four goals in as many outings.
However, Menard helped seal the home ice victory as he chipped in a backhand after Carter Brownlee kept a clearing attempt in the Rapids zone and fired it to the net.
Not done quite yet, Menard finished off his hat trick by blasting in shot after being teed up by Graydon Guthrie to supply his NOJHL-leading 17th goal of the season to wrap things up.
