FRENCH RIVER – The French River Rapids rallied from a two-goal deficit and picked up a 57-save performance from goaltender Spencer Eschyshcyn as they went on to edge the Timmins Rock 4-3 Sunday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at Noelville Arena.
The opening stanza went in the favour of Timmins as the visitors scored twice to take the early lead on Wayne Mathieu’s first two goals of the season, including one on a power play.
French River battled back in the middle frame with two of their own to knot the affair at 2-2 after 40 minutes.
Starting the comeback for the Rapids was the NOJHL’s top point producer Gregory Trudeau-Paquet as he scored for a third straight outing while notching his league-leading 12th tally of the campaign at 1:43 of the session.
Will Frustaglio then tied it six minutes later as the contest entered the final frame level.
Action in the third period saw the home side keep coming as Spencer Dupuis connected at 4:45 with his initial marker of 2017-18.
Not to be outdone, it more French River two and a half minutes later thanks to Braydon Crowe during a man advantage opportunity in what turned out to be the game-winner.
Stewart Parnell did bring the Rock back to within one with 1:26 remaining in regulation as he finished off a Mathieu feed as part pf a 26-shot barrage in the period, but Timmins would get no closer before time expired.
Chad Lafortune dished out two assists to aid the Rapids’ cause.
Shots on goal in the contest favoured the Rock by a 60-39 margin with Eschyshcyn posting the victory while Eric Jackson suffered the loss.
Game pics courtesy of Dal Photography
