Photos: Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – A trio of man advantage markers and the first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League shutout by Dryden Riley was more than enough for the Timmins Rock, who went on the blank the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 6-0 Sunday afternoon at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
Some early pressure by the visiting Rock helped them open the scoring, when Jack Kelly fired one in from the right hash mark, for his first of the season, in just his second game with the club.
Timmins added to their lead three and a half minutes into the middle stanza after they controlled a face off, which led to Ryan Armitage whipping one in from the slot on Kirkland Lake netminder Graydon Mole.
The Rock’s league-leading power play then went to work with Lucas Lowe redirecting in a Sam Gallagher blast, from up high, during a two-man advantage.
Striking once more off a five-on-three, Timmins won a draw and worked it across to Mason Svarich who quickly cranked in a one-timer from the right circle for his 20th goal of the season.
Putting the game out of reach, Henry McLellan picked up his initial NOJHL tally after firing one through Mole with just over seven minutes to go.
They then saw Brant Romaniuk round out the scoring as he buried a shot from the left side to wrap-up the one-sided result.
Timmins has not lost to Kirkland Lake in league play since November of 2018, a run of 30-plus consecutive regular season games.
On this day Riley wins his ninth straight start, helping the Rock improve to 20-9-2-0 overall.
In defeat, the Gold Miners fall to 7-20-3-1.
