Photos: Northern Exposures Photography
ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – The Elliot Lake Red Wings saw Sam Noad tally twice to help propel them to an eventual 6-2 victory over the visiting Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair at Centennial Arena.
It took the hometown Red Wings just three and a half minutes to notch the night’s opening goal as Thomas Sefton sent a wrist shot from the point that sailed by a screened Braydon Garnhart in the Gold Miners’ net.
Countering with the equalizer a couple of shifts later, Kirkland Lake’s Samuel Du Mauro picked off a play in the neutral zone, then skated in and got it over to Benjamin Armatage in the right circle who beat Elliot Lake’s Sean Geurin with a blocker side attempt.
Storming back, the Red Wings countered with a trio of tallies in under a four-minute span to take a 4-1 lead to the dressing room after one period of play.
Ryan Daponte’s first NOJHL goal put the hosts back in front as he cranked in a one-timer from the right circle.
A minute later, Kaden Laverdiere upped the edge as he took a puck off his skate and sent a low shot by Garnhart from between the hashmarks.
Capping off the outburst was Noad at 17:46, as he tipped in a Devin Shoreman chance from up high.
Play in the middle stanza saw Noad notch another as he lifted in a backhand late into a man advantage for his second of the evening.
Getting one back midway through the frame, Andronique Stepanian bagged his first of the season for the Gold Miners as he deftly deflected a William Neeld shot from inside the blueline.
Adding some insurance early in the third, Darcy Scott sailed an attempt from the left point that found its way in past some bodies jammed in front of the net.
The win for Guerin was his seventh of the season and saw his side move to .500 on the year at 12-12-0-1.
