TIMMINS, Ont. – The Timmins Rock got two goals apiece from Thomas Beard and Brady Harroun, as well as shutout goaltending from Jacob Brown, to blank the French River Rapids 7-0 Saturday in Game 2 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League East Division semifinal at McIntyre Arena.
With the win, Timmins now leads the best-of-seven series 2-0, heading into a 7 p.m. start for Game 3 Monday at Noelville Arena.
The Rock got going offensively near the 11-minute mark of the first period when Lucas Lowe sent a shot from the high slot that clipped off the stick of a Rapids’ defender and changed direction enough to fool French River netminder Matthew Perdue, as the puck flew into the top corner.
Timmins came back and got another on a delayed penalty with Harroun crashing the crease and stuffing one in before Perdue could get to it.
French River made a goaltending change to begin the second period as Ben Gustafson entered in place of Perdue.
Up a pair into the middle frame, Harroun provided his fourth of the playoffs at 7:46 as he was left to knock one in for another close-range effort.
Adding a fourth on the night, the Rock’s Beard batted in a bouncing puck off a play started by Brant Romaniuk to extend the cushion.
Timmins captain Nicolas Pigeon then clicked on the power play as he took a Kenyon Nyman feed and lifted one top shelf from the left circle to put his side up by five after 40 minutes.
Putting the game away in the final frame, Beard batted in his second out of mid-air be completing a play with Evan Grigor for a shorthanded effort at 5:45.
Christophe Petit then rounded the scoring as he pinched in from the point and took Justin Charette pass and put it into the top right corner with just over four minutes to play.
NOJHL East Division semifinal
Timmins Rock vs. French River Rapids
Game 1: Rock 8 Rapids 2
Game 2: Rock 7 Rapids 0
Game 3: Monday, March 27 @ French River 7 p.m. (Noelville Arena)
Game 4: Tuesday, March 28 @ French River 7 p.m. (Noelville Arena)
Game 5*: Thursday, March 30 @ Timmins 7 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
Game 6*: Saturday, April 1 @ French River 7 p.m. (Noelville Arena)
Game 7*: Monday, April 3 @ Timmins 7 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
*-if necessary
Timmins leads best-of-seven series 2-0
Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
