TIMMINS, Ont. – An early Zachary Demers’ marker, along with goaltender Ethan Dinsdale’s first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League shutout, proved to be difference makers as the Hearst Lumberjacks went on to blank the Timmins Rock 2-0 Sunday afternoon at McIntyre Arena.
Seeing their first game action of 2023, the Lumberjacks found their stride offensively five minutes into the match-up.
On that play, Demers beat Timmins’ starter Patrick Boivin to give him points in nine straight outings by tucking in a close-range backhand off a scrambled draw.
It stayed 1-0 Hearst into the third period where the visitors extended their lead at 5:46, via the power play, with Emile Pichette whipping in a one-timer off a cross-ice feed by Demers from the left circle.
Dinsdale and the club’s defensive efforts did the rest in keep the Rock off the scoreboard for the first time in a regular season contest since back on January 20, 2020 when they were stopped 1-0 on the road by the Powassan Voodoos.
It also saw the end of a league season-high 19-game point streak that was held by Rock captain Nicolas Pigeon.
With the outcome, the Lumberjacks moved to 27-8-2-0 on the season while Timmins dropped to 26-6-3-2 in defeat.
The two sides will now prepare to meet again on Friday as they cap off a home-and-home in a 7 p.m. start at Claude Larose Recreation Centre in Hearst, and on HockeyTV.com.
Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel
