Gold Miners strike early en route to win over Eagles

KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – The Kirkland Lake Gold Miners struck four times in an action-packed first Friday to send them on their way to a convincing 7-2 victory over the visiting Soo Eagles in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.

Kirkland Lake took control of the contest right from the onset as Gregory Trudeau-Paquet picked up his 15th goal of the season 23 seconds after the opening face off.

Three minutes later the Gold Miners added another off the stick of Sam Ellwood.

It was more home side later in the frame as Blake Bonnar notched his first NOJHL tally at 14:48 before teammate Colin Cromie finished off the offensive outburst in the final minute of the session.

The Eagles opted to replace starter Joseph Benedetto in favour of Shane Brancato to begin the second stanza, however the change failed to slow down the Gold Miners as they kept coming and scored twice more before the period was five minutes old on markers from Vinny DeSanctis, at even strength, and Joshua Maine on the power play.

Kirkland Lake added another in the third getting a goal from Christian Snyder before Sault Ste. Marie’s Riley Jensen dashed Gregory Brassard’s shutout bid with four and a half minutes left.

The Eagles then got one more in the late going from Kyle Quinn with 70 seconds to go to round out the scoring.

Paquet also added three assists in the one-sided decision to finish with a four-point night

Brassard finished with 35 saves to record the win.

Eagles starter Benedetto suffered the loss allowing four on 17 attempts in one period of work while Brancato handled 15 of 18 in relief.