Kirkland Lake kicks off Polar Bear Classic with win over French River

COCHRANE, Ont. – The Kirkland Lake Gold Miners connected for five unanswered goals to break open a tie game as they went on to defeat the French River Rapids 6-1 Friday in the opening game of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Polar Bear Classic preseason tournament at Tim Horton Events Centre.

Josh Maine opened the scoring for the Gold Miners nearly eight minutes into the match-up only to see the Rapids draw level at 9:36 thanks to a man advantage marker off the stick of Cooper Bowman.

Moving on to the middle stanza, Kirkland Lake tallied twice that featured the eventual game-winner from Gregory Trudeau-Paquet and their third goal courtesy of Noah Cauchi, which came on the power play.

They then put it away in the final frame with a trio of tallies.

Maine started the scoring in the third as he converted midway through the session with his team up a skater.

Christian Snyder and Quinn Schneidmiller wrapped up the scoring and the Gold Miners’ win.

Cauchi and Trudeau-Paquet also chipped in with two assists in the victory.

Kirkland Lake out shot French River 39-25 on the afternoon.

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