Photos: Cassy Séguin
FRENCH RIVER – A big night overall offensively from the Hearst Lumberjacks saw them dump the French River Rapids 9-3 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League get together Saturday at Noelville Arena.
Notching the night’s initial tally early on, Chase Thompson put Hearst on the board at 2:12 when he pushed a play ahead off a draw and put a shot to the target that clipped off the stick of a French River defenceman and sailed past netminder Zachery Burleigh.
Whipping in a Tyler Patterson pass into the slot, Jean-Pierre Audras made it 2-0 Lumberjacks as he scored for a fourth time on the campaign.
Getting one back to commence the second stanza, the Rapids’ Bryson Villeneuve worked his way out from the side boards and got to the net with a chance that was stopped by goaltender Owen Bonthuis, but Hunter Vilanez was right there to chip in the rebound.
Hearst however answered that right off the draw as DonHeaven Villeuex moved into the French River zone, side-stepped a defender, and buried his 22nd goal on the season.
Sam Taylor then made it 4-1 at 3:46 as he moved in from the point and wired his attempt off the crossbar and in.
The visitors kept coming and saw Bronson Babyak convert on a man advantage as a chopped in a loose puck that Burleigh could not quite control.
Adding to their cushion on a five-on-three, the Lumberjacks’ Mathieu Comeau spotted an open Thompson, who slammed in his second of the evening.
Battling back, French River banged in a pair on Bonthuis in the final two minutes of the session to make it a 6-3 game.
A Noah Szczurek point attempt hit off the stick of a defender and knuckled its way into the net before Dominic Bzdyl clicked on the power play at 19:51 as he cranked in a one-timer from up top.
A milestone marker in the final frame saw Patterson collect his 100th NOJHL goal as he beat Brock Grein, who entered in relief of Burleigh to begin the third.
Patterson then notched his 101st league marker after that as he quickly finished off a Comeau feed at 12:15.
Cole Shepherdson capped off the one-sided result in the late going as Hearst skated away comfortably with the road victory.
