Photos: Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – Fynn Manttari tallied twice while Jordan Fitger scored once and added multiple assists to help propel the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners to a 6-2 win over the Iroquois Falls Storm Sunday afternoon in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
The Gold Miners have now begun the season 2-0 for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign, when they won each of their opening four contests.
Kirkland Lake was quick to click offensively in the match-up when affiliate defenceman Spencer Wilfong took a pass from Ryland Harvey at the top of the left circle and snapped a shot to the target that leaked through Iroquois Falls starter Justin Sullivan, a minute and a half in for his first NOJHL goal.
Countering while shorthanded midway through the first period, Landon Trethewey drew the Storm level as he corralled a feed from down low by Lucas Peever and stuffed it past Gold Miners’ goalkeeper Glen McInnes.
Retaking the lead at 15:55 after winning a draw Kirkland Lake defenceman Daniel Rusu fired a quick pass across to D-partner Manttari who whipped in his initial league marker from the high slot.
Adding to their edge early in the second stanza, Nathan Harper put the home side up by two when he was sent in alone on a breakaway where after losing control of the puck briefly, got it back and slid it along the ice past Sullivan.
More from the Miners at 8:15, Fitger collected his first of the campaign on another man-down effort after going in unchallenged off a Ben Lyons set-up and wiring a wrister into the left corner.
Appearing in his 100th NOJHL game, Ben Sherwin pulled the guests back to within two when Michael Karadinovic chased down a loose puck in the Kirkland Lake zone and fed an open Sherwin alone in front who put one five-hole at 16:04.
Another from Manttari half-way through the third helped the hosts secure the victory as he generated a turnover and darted in alone and proceeded to rip one high blocker-side .
Capping off the home-ice triumph, Fitger steered a crisp pass over to Cayleb Gustave, who opened his NOJHL tally account with a nice finish.
