GALLERY: Caron collects hat trick, 6 points, as Timmins ends Hearst’s 8-game winning streak

TIMMINS, Ont. – The Timmins Rock received a three-goal, three-assist performance from defenceman Phil Caron to lead them to a convincing 9-4 triumph over the Hearst Lumberjacks in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Sunday afternoon at McIntyre Arena with 953 fans on hand.

With the win, Timmins (24-5-1-1) takes their third straight contest and also puts an end to Hearst’s (26-11-0-1) eight-game winning streak in the process while tightening the gap atop the NOJHL’s East Division standings.

The Rock came out rolling to commence the contest as they collected a trio of tallies before the match-up was seven and a half minutes old to chase Lumberjacks’ starting netminder Liam Oxner in favour of backup Noah Zeppa.

Caron put Timmins on top 1:49 after the opening faceoff as his fourth tally since joining the club sent his side on their way.

They then collected markers 12 seconds apart courtesy of Stewart Parnell and Tyler Schwindt prompting the goaltending change by the visitors.

Hearst would get one back before the first frame was complete when Jake Desando supplied his 16th at 10:54.

The home side countered though four and a half minutes into the middle stanza on a Josh Anderson effort.

After Spencer Silver struck for the Lumberjacks at 8:17, Caron banged in his second of the day during a Rock man advantage opportunity.

Back and forth they went in the session with Jordyn Mughal converting for the guests to make it 5-3 after two periods of play.

In the third, Caron capped off his three-goal performance with a power play effort at 2:54.

He then set-up Parnell a few shifts later to give him his second assist and fifth point of the afternoon and saw Oxner return to the Hearst net.

David Gobeil got one back for the Lumberjacks with just over 13 minutes remaining, however, the hosts capped off their victory thanks to Derek Seguin, at even strength, and another from Schwindt, with help from Caron during a power play, to round out the scoring.

Timmins goalkeeper Tyler Masternak recorded the win, the 51st of his NOJHL career.

Zeppa suffered the setback in just over 38 minutes of relief of Oxner.

Game Photos courtesy of  Thomas PerryThe Daily Press (Timmins)