NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Sunday, March 5, 2017
French River records home win in decision over Iroquois Falls
NOELVILLE, Ont. – The French River Rapids picked up three goals and an assist from William Michaud to help them register their first home win of the season Sunday as they defeated the Iroquois Falls Eskis 7-5 in a high-scoring Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair at Noelville Arena.
Continuing a solid 2016-17 campaign for the Eskis, Shadow Reuben put Iroquois Falls on the board 92 seconds into the contest as he notched his 30th goal of the year.
French River answered right back just over a minute later compliments of Robert Ranger.
The Rapids then tacked on two more in rapid succession later in the frame with Christian Gaudreau supplying his team-leading 17th while Michaud chipped in with his eighth.
It was more French River to begin the second as Michaud added another to make it 4-1 for the home side.
However, Wade Auger brought the visitors back to within two as he finished off a Reuben feed at 6:13.
Iroquois Falls kept coming and made it 4-3 with half a game to play when Grant Omyer deposited his third as a member of the Eskis at 9:15.
The back-and-forth contest saw French River add one in the final moments of the session when Gregory Trudeau-Paquet connected with six seconds remaining.
There were more goals in the third starting with an Adrian Nicholas marker for the Rapids at 1:43.
However Iroquois Falls came right back 12 seconds later with Samuel Vigneux adding to the tally total.
Reuben’s second of the game and 31st overall made it a one-goal game once again as he converted on a man advantage opportunity with over 14 minutes remaining.
In the end though, French River prevailed and secured their first home decision in the final seconds thanks to an empty net effort from Michaud, who finished off his trick to go along with his helper.
Evan Peltier made 25 stops to post the win for the Rapids.
Ty Sparling started for the Eskis and suffered the setback seeing 49 shots fired his way.
The NOJHL’s regular season will conclude Wednesday on two fronts with French River hosting Powassan while Iroquois Falls entertains Timmins in a pair of 7:30 p.m. starts.
Photos by Dal Photography