Photos: Northern Lights Photography
HEARST, Ont. – Providing multiple markers in each period Friday, the Hearst Lumberjacks went on the double-up the Espanola Paper Kings 8-4 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League meeting at Claude Larose Recreation Centre.
Despite objections from the visitors on an early Hearst goal being off-side, the night’s initial marker was allowed to stand as Cole Shepherdson buried a shot while coming down the left wing.
The Lumberjacks then went up by a pair at 6:16 when Liam Boswell darted into the Paper Kings’ end, cut to the middle, before waiting for an opening and ripping his chance, high over the glove of netminder Jack Helkie.
Countering on a couple of man advantage opportunities, Espanola came back to knot the affair at 2-2 after one.
Their initial man advantage effort came on a five-on-three as Grant Booth roofed one from a sharp angle in close off some nice puck movement.
Still up a skater, the guests tied it at 15:51, with Nathan Marincola firing a low attempt that got through Hearst goalkeeper Alexandre Boivin.
Retaking the lead early in the second stanza, Hearst’s Hugo Allard chased down a dump in, which led to Aiden Kalin putting a cross-ice feed to DonHeaven Veilleux, who lifted it past the outstretched glove of Helkie.
Restoring their two-tally cushion at 12:48, the Lumberjacks’ Mathieu Comeau controlled a draw, then sent the puck across to defenceman Julien Trudel, who moved in and sent a sizzler into the top right-hand corner.
Adding another before the intermission, Adam Shillinglaw quickly pumped a blast from up top that Damien Bourdon-Lemoyne managed to get a piece and get past a blocked-out Helkie.
In the third, Henry Ouellet collected his opening NOJHL goal with a short-side snap shot at 2:45.
A late flurry saw each side strike twice in the late going to cap-off the high-scoring affair.
Cameron Menard, on a breakaway, as well as a Luke Hill power play attempt with authority from the point, connected for the Paper Kings in the session.
Meanwhile, Ouellet with another, and a shorthanded wrister from Allard, to commence his NOJHL goal ledger, countered for the Lumberjacks.
The result sees the Lumberjacks raise their record to 6-2-0-0 and in defeat, the Paper Kings dipped to 3-5-1-0.