Photos: Helene Rancourt
BLIND RIVER, Ont. – A Brady Harroun man advantage effort with 7:14 remaining in regulation proved to be the game-winner as the Timmins Rock skated to a 3-2 triumph over the Blind River Beavers in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Sunday matinee at the Blind River Community Centre.
Neither side would convert in the opening 20 minutes as the clubs hit the first intermission still in search of the day’s initial tally.
In the middle stanza, Timmins scored first at 6:18 after Chase Longhurst put one on net from the point with a goal-mouth scramble ensuing that eventually saw Liam Wells jam in his fifth goal in his past four games.
The Beavers did get an equalizer in the latter stages of the period with Evan Fraccaro doing the majority of the work on the play as he drove down the right side before powering to the net where a waiting Caleb Minns was there to stuff in the loose puck at 16:06.
Going back in front during a man advantage just before time expired in the second period, Kenyon Nyman put one towards the net from the point that was redirected in by Nolan Ring by goaltender Charlie Burns at 19:59.
Countering to draw level once more, Trevor Zimmer got enough of a play to even the count at 2-2 as part of a congregation battling in front of a sprawled Patrick Boivin in the Rock net at 1:20.
However, the Rock retook the lead for good thanks to Harroun as he whipped one in from the top of the right circle while Timmins was up a skater.
Blind River pulled Burns for an extra attacker late to try and force overtime and had a number of quality chances in the final minute, but were foiled, featuring a big right-pad save by Boivin to help secure the road victory.
The result helped the Rock improve to 9-4-1-1 on the year while Blind River dipped to 10-3-0-1 in defeat.
