Photos – Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – A Spencer Borg marker in the 11th round of the shootout was the difference as the French River Rapids rallied to pull out a 3-2 triumph over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Friday night at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
The hometown Gold Miners opened the scoring just past the six-minute mark of the first period as Lucas Renzoni collected the rebound off his own initial shot and snapped one upstairs from the right point to put the hosts in front.
Adding another, Spencer Jones made it 2-0 at 13:30 from a similar location as Renzoni’s marker as he whistled one through a crowd that got past French River goalkeeper Hayden Williamson.
Getting one back before the frame was complete, the Rapids’ Cooper Bowman struck shorthanded after being sent in alone and made no mistake lifting one over the glove of Kirkland Lake starter Zachary Reddy.
It was more Bowman midway through the contest as he darted down the right wing and whipped one blocker side on Reddy to knot the affair at 2-2.
Staying tied through the remainder of regulation, the clubs headed to extra time to try and determine a winner.
After the five-minute OT solved nothing, it headed to the shootout.
In all, it took 22 attempts, in total, before Borg won it as he came down the ice and zipped a shot high over Reddy’s glove to give the guests the win.
Willamson made 39 stops in 65 minutes of work and handled nine of 11 attempts after that to earn the victory.
As for Reddy, he had 37 saves through three periods and OT, as well as eight of 11 in the shootout to help his side pickup a point.
