FRENCH RIVER – Using a well spread-out offense, the Elliot Lake Vikings got goals from six different skaters as part of a 6-2 triumph over the French River Rapids Sunday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League outing at Noelville Arena.
It was the visiting Vikings who began the scoring nearly 15 minutes into opening period as defenceman Mason Chapman went coast-to-coast on a nice individual rush that eventually saw him split the Rapids’ defence then take it to his left where he tucked in his first NOJHL goal.
After French River were denied on an early second period shorthanded breakaway to tie it, Elliot Lake came right back on the man advantage to go up by two.
On the tally, Dylan Waduck collected his own rebound off a shot he put off the post and converted from the right side, in eluding netminder Calvin Gardner.
Building on that, the guests went up by three as Jonathan Benchlouch took a spinning Chase Pouchnik back pass between the circles and wired in his initial league tally.
The Rapids got one back via a man advantage at 4:58 thanks to Noah Saye, who worked a give-and-go with Dacey Dupuis before whipping an attempt high up over the glove of Vikings’ goalkeeper Jacob Kirstein.
Still 3-1 Elliot Lake into the final frame, they extended their cushion on a five-on-three when Aleksander Duguay got the last touch on a loose puck after Kieran Prichett put one to the target from between the circles.
Adding some insurance less than a minute later, defenceman Dane Skillings wired one in from the high slot.
That resulted in a goaltending change for French River as back-up Liam McGilp entered in relief.
The Rapids did get one back with 3:44 remaining as Leif Sigfusson went hard to the net and finished off a feed put through the crease by Nicholas Arbour to score for a third straight game.
However, the Vikings wrapped it up a couple of shifts later compliments of Landen Lake-Rego when Prichett sent him ahead on a breakaway, where moved to his right and deposited the day’s final marker to round out the scoring.
Up next for the NOJHL is its Showcase event, which goes Tuesday and Wednesday (Oct. 6-7) at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury as well as online at FLOHockey.tv.
