KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – A quick start and goals from five different skaters propelled the French River Rapids to a 5-2 victory over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League East Division match-up at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
Halfway through the first frame, French River began the night’s scoring off the stick of Cooper Bowman as he scored for a second straight game while notching his fifth marker of the year, which established a new personal season-high.
The Rapids added another thanks to defenceman Brendan Guignard notched his first NOJHL goal at 15:42.
A third French River marker came sixth and a half minutes into the middle frame as Reid Manning made it 3-0.
They then added another 10 minutes later with Jack Tos adding to the lead.
Kirkland Lake did get on the board at 18:25 with Camille Marcoux connecting on the power play with an assist from Cameron Neaylon on a play where Rapids netminder Chase Johnson being injured on the play and being replaced by Sebastian Woods, who went the rest of the way.
Near the half way point of the third, the home side drew closer when Connor Van Weelie connected on the man advantage as he scored for a third consecutive game.
The Gold Miners then pulled starter Kohl Reddy late for an extra attacker, but it was French River’s Benjamin Naimool who put one into an empty net to complete the road triumph.
Johnson made 24 saves in earning the victory before departing due to being injured while Woods handled eight of nine in relief.
As for Reddy, he stopped 33 of 37 in defeat.
Game Photos courtesy of CapturingTheMoment.ca