Photos: Turnbull’s Northern Photography
IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – Riding the strength of Jordan Mayo second period natural hat trick, the Iroquois Falls Storm went on to dump the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 8-3 Saturday night in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at Jus Jordan Arena.
With a boisterous crowd backing them, the Storm began the scoring just over three minutes in as Adam Scott jammed a loose puck under Gold Miners’ goaltender Kael Moberg while battling in close.
Carrying the lead into the second stanza, Iroquois Falls went up by a pair, by converting on a power play at 4:53 when Brayden Hindman moved in from the right point and sent a crisp feed over to Mayo, who wasted little time in whipping it in.
Mayo then added another, during a five-on-three as he corralled a loose puck in close and snapped it in.
Continuing to press, the Storm provided another man advantage effort with Mayo striking once more with a sizzler into the top left corner from the slot.
Adding to their edge late in the middle session, Scott had a couple of cracks on a two-man break prior to notching his second of the night.
Coming out hard in the final frame, Kirkland Lake struck twice early on to cut into the deficit.
Brendon Hammer got the guests on the board at 1:23 as he neatly deflected a Zachary Machoian wrist shot from the top of the right circle that just eluded Iroquois Falls goaltender Matis Bureau-Morel while up a skater.
The Gold Miners’ power play went to work once more and saw Inde Abresch wheel around before setting up Jordan Fitger, who wired an attempt from the left side.
Iroquois Falls got that back though when Mayo fed Landon Trethewey in prime scoring range where he made no mistake with his opportunity.
Putting the game away, Charlie Crump finished off a give-and-go with Trethewey to put the Storm back up by five.
Another by Hammer, who wristed in his second of the evening, with a well-placed attempt from between the circles.
Continuing to trade tallies, Trethewey ripped one upstairs to collect his club’s eighth in the match-up and cap-off the outcome.