HEARST, Ont. – The Hearst Lumberjacks reached double digits Saturday night to begin the 2018 portion of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League slate in convincing style as they trounced the French River Rapids 10-3 at Claude Larose Arena.
Hearst came out flying in their first game since the holiday break as they scored four times in the opening period to take control early on goals from Dawson Waddell, newcomer Dominick Lavergne, Samuel Bourdages and Max Griffioen.
It was more Lumberjacks in the middle session as they extended their cushion thanks to a shorthanded marker from Alec Johnson.
After Stephen Calisti put the Rapids on the board thanks to a power play goal at 15:46, Lavergne added his second in his Hearst debut a couple shifts later to put the home side up 6-1 after 40 minutes.
Bourdages and Colin Boudreau upped the Lumberjacks lead early in the third before French River connected twice midway through the final frame thanks to Donny Schultz and Christian Gaudreau to move closer.
However, Hearst finished off the one-sided score with late goals from Lavergne, who finished off a hat trick and Griffioen to wrap-up the win.
Matt Kustra made 36 saves to record the victory for the Lumberjacks.
Josh Barrett started for the Rapids and allowed nine against on 41 attempts while Andrew Rocha stopped 17 of 18 in nearly 14 minutes of relief.
Photos courtesy of Jimmy Cote Photography