TIMMINS, Ont. – Getting goals from six different skaters, the Timmins Rock used that spread out offensive attack to defeat the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 6-4 in a penalty-filled Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) preseason affair Sunday afternoon at McIntyre Arena.
The Gold Miners wasted little time in opening the scoring as Tysen Anderson moved down the left wing and fired a feed in front that Owen O’Grady knocked in past Rock starter Logan Coates, just 14 seconds into the contest.
After winning on the road in overtime Saturday, the hosts answered with an equalizer at 5:15, as Timmins drew level with highly touted rookie prospect Tanner Adams chipping in a loose puck off a two-on-one, that eluded Kirkland Lake netminder Morgan Hyndman.
Going back on top moments later, a spinning Nathan Harper converted from the top of the crease to make it 2-1 for the visitors.
The early goals kept coming as Jordan McLeod was spotted in the high slot and wired in a shot to knot the affair again, midway through the first period.
A third lead for the Gold Miners saw Lex Lamontagne deposit a backhand into the open corner after Coates couldn’t control a play below the goal line.
A sixth in the session resulted when the Rock’s Edan Etheridge was spotted darting down the left side by Evan Katic and wired in his attempt from the circle.
Timmins then picked up the seventh marker of the period when Katic muscled his way out front from down low and sent a shot through the legs of Hyndman, at the 19-minute mark, with the sides skating four aside.
Moving to the second stanza, the Rock went up by a pair halfway through the match-up when a quick counter in transition allowed Matteo Paradiso to split the Kirkland Lake defence and make a couple of crafty dekes before scoring from in close.
Pulling back to within one on a four-on-three, Harper sent a rising sizzler into the top corner while situated in the left circle to make it 5-4 Timmins after 40 minutes.
In the third, Ashton Beriana wheeled around between the circles and wired an attempt over the blocker of Hyndman, on a power play, extend the Rock edge once more.
The proved to be the day’s final tally to secure the home-ice victory.
Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
