Photos: Northern Lights Photography
HEARST, Ont. – The Hearst Lumberjacks built up a four-goal lead before withstanding a third period push by the Iroquois Falls Storm and eventually prevailing 7-3 Thursday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) preseason play at Claude Larose Recreation Centre.
After a scoreless opening frame, Hearst opened the scoring on a power play in the middle stanza as Owen Kahl whipped in a wrist shot from the top of the right circle that eluded Iroquois Falls netminder Caleb Shuker.
Notching another, while up a skater later in the session, the Lumberjacks’ Cameron Menard move out from in deep and snapped in his club’s second of the night.
More from the home side saw Luc Warner work his way to the slot where he buried a quick shot on Shuker to make it 3-0.
A buzzer-beater from Kahl in close extended the cushion at 19:59.
Coming out quickly in the third, Simon Lemieux put the Storm on the board, when he fired an attempt through Hearst’s Jack Helkie.
Tacking on another one moments later, Arthur Seamus McCown finished off a crisp cross-ice feed from teammate Bryson Villeneuve to get the guests right back in it.
A third straight tally for the visitors saw Matys Lefebvre snag a loose puck behind the net, where he cut out front and stuffed in a back hand on a sprawling Helkie with 11:30 to go.
Regrouping, the Lumberjacks collected an insurance marker a few shifts later, when Menard shovelled in a chance put his way from Kahl.
Capping off the victory, William Fournier scored on a penalty shot by going left to right slowly and getting just enough of his attempt to elude Shuker before John Wesley converted while parked alone at the top of the crease to round out the scoring.
The two teams will cap-off a home-and-home set Friday at Jus Jordan Arena. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
SOO EAGLES 3, SAULT COLLEGE COUGARS 2: Earlier in the day, the Soo Eagles edged the Sault College Cougars 3-2 in an exhibition game held at Big Bear Arena.
Colton Huckson gave the Eagles an early lead, before former NOJHLer Chase Thompson put the Cougars on the board in the latter stages of the first period, only to see Harmon Esch put the home side back in front at 19:19.
However, Koen Manchulenko pulled the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., side back to level terms a couple of minutes into the middle frame.
The Eagles then broke the deadlock in the third, on the game-winner supplied by Sam Gold on the power play.
Daryn Szabo picked up the win in relief, seeing time in net in the last session.
Keenan Marks and ex-NOJHL goalkeeper, Matthew Vahramian, split duties in goal for the Cougars in the setback.
