KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – An action-packed 11-goal night saw the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners outlast the French River Rapids 6-5 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up Wednesday at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
The Rapids came out quickly collecting a 2-0 lead in this one as Will Frustaglio and Connor Loft put the visitors up by a pair.
Noah Cauchi got the Gold Miners going offensively in the back half of the frame to bring the home side to within one entering the middle session.
In that second period, French River came out quickly to make it 3-1 as Philippe Daoust reached the 20-goal plateau in this his rookie season in the NOJHL.
However, Kirkland Lake countered with a trio of tallies in under a six-minute span to take the lead as Cauchi, Joshua Maine and captain Quinn Schneidmiller all scored in rapid succession.
Back and forth they continued with the Rapids tacking on two of their own from Frustaglio and Loft as they regained the edge.
Not to be outdone, the Gold Miners capped off a combined eight-goal frame with markers from Matthew Brassard and Sam Ellwood to make 6-5 for the home side after two.
Heading to the final frame, it was a defensive struggle as neither side were able to dent the twine from there as Kirkland Lake secured the victory as well as second spot in the league’s East Division.
Picking up three assists each on the night were Gregory Trudeau-Paquet of the Gold Miners and Daoust for French River.
Shots on goal finished up 36-28 in favour of Kirkland Lake.
Gregory Brassard started for the Gold Miners and allowed three against on 14 attempts before giving way to Dawson Rodin, who picked up the win in relief, which included foiling a second period penalty shot, while Rapids netminder Carson Murison suffered the defeat.
Game Photos courtesy of CapturingTheMoment.ca
