FRENCH RIVER – Levi Siau scored three times and assisted on two others to help the French River Rapids storm back and rally past the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 8-5 in a high-scoring Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest Saturday at Noelville Arena.
Kirkland Lake came out strong in the first period and grabbed a 2-0 lead on tallies from Blake Bonnar, at even strength, 63 seconds into the matchup and Christian Snyder, via the power play, at 15:41.
French River got one back early in the middle session off the stick of Philippe Daoust only to see the Gold Miners add two more from Bonnar and Max Newnam.
Then with the visitors up 4-1 in the final minute of the frame, the Rapids struck twice during a two-man advantage, 41 seconds apart, on extra man markers from Siau and Hunter Brazier.
Still on the power play to begin the third, Siau scored again to knot the affair at 1:09.
Regrouping, Kirkland Lake went back on top a couple shifts later on a James Scott goal.
However, French River battled back yet again to pull out the come from behind triumph with four unanswered efforts and secure the victory.
Cameron Conover’s first of the season tied it once more for the Rapids at 5:55 before Siau finished off his hat trick nine minutes later while Kevin Shuttleworth collected his initial marker of the campaign moments after that.
Griffin Simpson then finished off the comeback with a late empty netter while his club was shorthanded.
Kevin Tardiff started for French River and allowed the two against on 12 shots in the first frame before Marshall Frappier came in to begin the second stanza, where he picked up the win in relief stopping 31 of 34 along the way.
Dawson Rodin faced 48 attempts in defeat for the Gold Miners.
Photos courtesy of Dal Photography
