TIMMINS, Ont. – An Edan Etheridge power play goal with 6:25 remaining in regulation proved to be the game-winner as the Timmins Rock went on to defeat the French River Rapids 6-3 Sunday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League afternoon affair at McIntyre Arena.
After a solid number of stops in over 12 minutes of action, Rapids’ starter Gavin Zuccato was injured and had to give way to back-up Calvin Gardner, who entered in long relief.
Following some further sustained pressure, Timmins began the scoring at 14:21 of the first period when Maxx Hamelin corralled a loose puck down low then wheeled into the slot where he sent a rising wrist shot high over the blocker of Gardner.
More from the home side saw Nolan McVeigh put one on net from the point that was stopped, but Simon Toupin got a couple of whacks in close before eventually getting enough on his final attempt to get it across the goal line.
Battling back, Tristan Lavoie put French River on the board at 16:05 as he took a play to the net and while cutting across the crease tucked in a chance that eluded Rock netminder Ayden Mullen.
The visitors then drew level before the intermission when Dacey Dupuis clicked on a man advantage as he finished off the leftovers after Leif Sigfusson had redirected a shot from up top courtesy of Kaddes Katapatuk.
Some end-to-end action early in the second stanza featured Gardner denying Evan Katic on a shorthanded breakaway.
Timmins eventually retook the lead at 5:55 when Ashton Beriana took a draw won back to him by Matteo Paradiso then slid a pass across to defenceman MacKenzie Souter on the right side, who had moved up, and ripped in his first NOJHL goal.
Despite a trio of power plays in the session, the Rapids could not convert, thus allowing the Rock to hold their 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.
In the final frame, French River did pull even while up a skater at 11:45 when Sigfusson worked his way out of the right corner and cut into the nearby circle where he roofed a short side shot over the shoulder of Mullen.
Connecting on a power play of their own a couple of shifts later, Etheridge finished off a crisp three-way passing play with Hamelin and Paradiso that left Gardner with no chance on the marker.
Timmins the sealed the victory with later efforts from Hamelin and Paradiso to eventually secure the result.
On Hamelin’s goal he opted to shoot on a two-on-one and made no mistake while Paradiso, situated between the circles, wrapped up the scoring by going top shelf after being set-up by Beriana.
Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
