FRENCH RIVER – The Iroquois Falls Storm saw Benjamin Coupal tally twice and assist on two others to help lead his side to a 6-3 victory over the French River Rapids Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up Friday at Noelville Arena.
Going to the evening’s initial man advantage, the Storm used that to strike first as a spinning Alexandre St. Pierre found Landon Trethewey alone in front with a back pass, then saw him snap a shot by Rapids’ starter Matis Bureau-Morel, six and a half minutes in.
Adding another, Iroquois Falls went up by a pair at 14:37 as they worked a chance in deep that allowed Coupal to bury one from the top of the crease.
Regrouping, French River countered quickly when Armando Rojo Bolton bagged his second of the season by quickly whipping in a pass from down low courtesy of Jeremy Clark while situated unmarked in the slot.
The Rapids then tied it during a two-man advantage and saw Michael Morascyzk collect his first in the NOJHL as he chipped in a chance from close range, with help from Clark.
Still knotted at 2-2 into the middle stanza, Iroquois Falls retook the lead at 7:12 when Coupal dangled through the neutral zone and into French River territory where he used a defender as a screen and pumped a shot that handcuffed Bureau-Morel and went in.
Heading to the third period, the club’s traded tallies six minutes into the session with Lucas Peever slamming in Trethewey pass through the crease, only to see Jacob Cantin answer for the Rapids just 13 seconds later by knuckling in a backhand for his initial league goal.
Reestablishing a two-goal lead, the Storm’s Mathieu Ouellette jumped into a goal-mouth frenzy and stuffed in his first in the NOJHL at 13:03.
Wrapping up the road result on a late extended man advantage, Bruce Grey worked a give-and-go with Coupal and sizzled in a wrister from the high slot to round out the night’s scoring.
