Photo: Sam Hossack Media
SUDBURY, Ont. – The French River Rapids two goals apiece from Hunter Vilanez and Cameron Jansa to propel them past the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 5-2 Tuesday in the opener of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Showcase at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
After some quality chances at both ends of the ice, French River began the scoring at 19:34 after Nolan Masson pumped a shot on Kirkland Lake netminder Kael Moberg that was saved, but saw the rebound go right to Joey Stiles, who slammed in his first NOJHL goal into the open side.
Moving to the middle frame, the Gold Miners pushed hard for an equalizer, but the Rapids’ Carter Vicente stood tall to keep them off the board.
After French River held firm on a number of Kirkland Lake power play opportunities, they countered at even strength to go up by a pair at 15:24.
On the tally, Vilanez forced a turnover then spun in front and finished off his chance.
Building on that, the Rapids then took a 3-0 lead into the second intermission when Jansa poked the puck ahead out of his own zone and after driving up-ice, split the defence and lifted a backhand over the pad of Moberg.
The Gold Miners eventually solved Vicente on an early third period power play when Graham Rooney fired a feed into the crease that was guided in by Matthew Sackett for his initial league marker.
Getting that back, Vilanez darted down the left wing on a breakaway and sent a sizzler past the blocker of Moberg to make it 4-1 French River with 12:29 to play.
Putting the game away, Jansa lifted one upstairs from in close before Kirkland Lake’s Colin Tingay wired one from the high slot during a late man advantage, for his first in league play, to round out the scoring.
