IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – The Iroquois Falls Storm saw Mathieu Ouellette tally twice, then set-up the eventual game-winner, as part of a 4-2 triumph over the French River Rapids in a hard-fought Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair Friday evening at Jus Jordan Arena.
Converting on the evening’s initial power play opportunity, Jack Wilson put the Rapids in front when he neatly redirected a Jeremy Clark wrist shot from up top while stationed in front of Storm starter Nathan Boudreau.
Coming back to tie it while shorthanded, Ouellette chipped a play ahead at his own blueline then raced in on French River goalkeeper Ethan Madden where he made a move to his right and tucked in his 11th goal of the season.
More from Ouellette four and a half minutes into the middle frame saw him make a nice quick move out from along the goal line and send a sizzler by Madden on an Iroquois Falls power play.
Still 2-1 Storm into the final session, they went up by a pair with another man-down effort as Ouellette forced a turnover and shovelled a feed into the slot where a waiting Alexandre St. St. Pierre whipped it in at 12:40.
Still up a skater though, Wilson notched his second for French River as he knocked down a Clark point shot and batted it in 30 seconds later.
However, the home side helped secure the victory with another special teams’ effort as Owen Goodwin clicked with two and a half minutes left, while up a skater, as he came out from behind the net and jammed in a chance between Madden and the post to round out the scoring.
The win for Boudreau came in his NOJHL debut, with Madden also solid in goal for French River, despite the setback.
