Photos: Jeremy Seguin
FRENCH RIVER – The surging Timmins Rock used a well-balanced offensive attack, getting goals from seven different skaters, in defeating the French River Rapids 7-2 Saturday at Noelville Arena while recording their seventh Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League win in a row.
Gaining the upper hand to continue their winning ways, Timmins took the lead seven and a half minutes in as Lucas Lowe was there to finish off a rush up ice by chipping a loose puck by French River goalkeeper Ben Gustafson.
Countering quickly though, the Rapids tied it at 8:57 thanks to Matthew Campanella, who was sent in alone on a clear-cut breakaway and made no mistake by cutting right and lifting a backhand by Rock starter Jacob Brown.
Answering midway through the first period, the visitors went back in front when Kristopher Beauchamp buried a rebound from the slot, off a shot that hit the crossbar, and found its way to him to register his first NOJHL goal, in his league debut.
The lead was short lived once more though as French River clicked on a power play with Campanella collecting his second of the stanza.
Timmins did retake the lead in the middle frame, compliments of a four-goal outburst.
That began with a man advantage effort courtesy of Kenyon Nyman as he moved in from the point and put one through a mass of bodies to give him 10 tallies on the season.
Picking up the primary assist on the play was Rock captain Nicolas Pigeon, who in turn extended a consecutive game point streak to 14.
Another Timmins defenceman then connected moments later as Felix Cadieux-Fredette raised one through a maze that sailed into the top right hand corner from just inside the blueline.
Not done there, the guests made it 5-2 after forcing a turnover that eventually left Brady Harroun ample room to slide in his league-leading 22nd marker of the campaign.
Building on that, Hayden Rynard put his side up by four heading to the second intermission as he deposited his initial NOJHL goal by roofing one on Gustafson after being set-up nicely by Kaeden McArthur.
Putting the game out of reach early in the third, Evan Grigor spun and slammed one in from close range off a faceoff win by the Rock to round out the scoring.
The result sees the Rock take over top spot in the overall NOJHL standings with 48 points. That is two more than the idle Greater Sudbury Cubs, who do however hold three games in hand.