HEARST, Ont. – A Wade Auger shorthanded goal just past the 15-minute mark of the second period proved to be the game-winner as the Hearst Lumberjacks defeated the Timmins Rock 3-1 Wednesday evening in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at Claude Larose Arena.
It was a tight-checking opening stanza that was scoreless after 20 minutes.
Hearst would get on the board near the midway mark of the middle stanza when Samuel Bourdages picked up his fifth tally of the season with an unassisted effort.
Then down man a later in the frame Auger struck for the eventual difference maker to put the home side up by two heading into the third.
There Linden Spencer’s first NOJHL marker helped bring the Rock back to within one with 12:13 remaining in regulation.
However the Lumberjacks picked up some insurance with five and a half minutes to go to help secure the victory on an Alec Johnson effort.
Nicholas Dube made 21 saves to record his first win for Hearst while Eric Jackson faced 23 attempts in defeat for Timmins.
Game pics courtesy of Jimmy Cote Photography