Big 2nd period sends Gold Miners over Rapids

FRENCH RIVER – The Kirkland Lake Gold Miners broke open a tie game by striking for five unanswered second period goals to send them on their way to an 8-3 victory over the French River Rapids Wednesday evening in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at Noelville Arena.

Kirkland Lake also started strong grabbing a 2-0 lead before the contest was five minutes old on a pair of Declan Carter tallies.

Countering, Austin Petrie tacked on two of his own for French River to knot the affair for the home side.

However action in the middle stanza saw the Gold Miners blow it open with the five markers, which came in a span just over 10 minutes.

Skating in his 10th NOJHL game, Joshua Maine notched his first league goal, to go with two first period assists, to put the visitors back in front for good at 2:34 of the frame.

Kirkland Lake then added two more 12 seconds apart later on to go up by three thanks to Marshal Nikitin and Linden Namagoose.

It was more Gold Miners further into the session as Tyler Fyfe connected on the power play at 11:40 to make it a 6-2 score.

They weren’t done there as Hunter Forshew collected his initial NOJHL tally shortly after that to cap off the offensive outburst.

The onslaught continued early in the third as Carter struck shorthanded 42 seconds in to finish off his hat trick to add to the Kirkland Lake cushion.

Rapids’ affiliate player Brady Lacharity’s first NOJHL tally accounted for the night’s final marker as he connected with 10 seconds remaining to round out the scoring.

Damian Carigni chipped in with two assists for the Gold Miners as did Donny Schultz for French River.

Ryan Winter made 27 saves in net for Kirkland Lake to record the win.

Recently acquired Matty Mayhew and Andrew Rocha both saw time in in goal for the Rapids in defeat facing a combined 36 shots in the loss.