GALLERY: Rapids finish strong in home win over Wildcats

FRENCH RIVER – Connor Loft and Will Frustaglio both had three points apiece as the French River Rapids scored the games final six goals, all in the back half of the contest, as they defeated the Elliot Lake Wildcats 8-3 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Saturday at Noelville Arena.

Special teams were prevalent in the opening 20 minutes with the Rapids connecting once on the power play and another time shorthanded while the Wildcats converted twice with the man advantage.

Frustaglio with French River up man and Marc-Andre Quevillion clicked as the Rapids were killing a penalty.

As for Elliot Lake, both of their tallies in the frame came via the power play on Noah Minns’ sixth and Mark Perone’s first.

Heading to the middle session the two sides traded goals 22 seconds apart with Tanner Hicks scoring for the Wildcats only to see Griffin Simpson supply his first moments later for French River.

The Rapids continued to flow as they kept coming and tacked on two more quickly as Frustaglio and Loft connected a shift apart that resulted in the Wildcats changing starter Dominic Boily in favour of Justin Vertesi as French River went up 5-3.

Levi Siau kept it going for the home side offensively as he potted his fourth at 17:51 to extend their cushion to three.

French River then notched their fifth straight marker in the final frame compliments of Hunter Brazier at 7:43 before teammate Ryan Smith rounded out the scoring in the late going.

Marshall Frappier in the Rapids net made 26 saves to record his first NOJHL victory.

Boily suffered the loss allowing five against on 29 shots while Vertesi gave up three on 24 attempts in nearly 26 minutes of relief.

Photos courtesy of  Dal Photography