Photos: Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – Striking for five first period goals, including three by Alex Antoine, the Elliot Lake Red Wings went on to defeat the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 7-3 Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League game at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
Taking flight just over five minutes into the match-up, the Red Wings began their outburst when Antoine wired one from the slot into the top right-hand corner over the blocker of Kirkland Lake starter Ethan Barron.
They then saw Noah Aboflan make it 2-0 at 8:55 as he tipped in a Darcy Scott attempt from the right point while parked in front.
Elliot Lake added another on Antoine’s second of the session, which was scored on the power play, as he waited patiently for the puck in the left circle, then ripping it top shelf.
The Gold Miners did get one back courtesy of John-Paul Scaringi at 18:37 as he knocked one in off a feed from behind the net.
However, the visitors came back 20 seconds later and saw Evan Dantas chip in a rebound from the top of the crease.
Antoine then hit his hat trick before the intermission by steering in a Braeden Vis pass from the left side.
Moving to the middle stanza, Elliot Lake added a sixth as Silas Crawford finished off a two-on-one by roofing one on a diving Braydon Granhart, who took over for Barron to begin the frame.
Crawford then knocked in a loose puck at 7:56 to give him another one on the night.
Jake King was credited with one for Kirkland Lake just before the period expired, while Ian McDonald, on an early man advantage in the third, added one more for the home side to round out the scoring.
The road victory helped the Red Wings move to 15-32-1-2, with the Gold Miners falling to 5-43-1-1 with the loss.
