Timmins Rock forward Evan Katic lifts a shot up and over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners goalie Antoine Ethier from his knees for one of his three goals during Friday night’s NOJHL contest at the McIntyre Arena. Katic, who now has 10 goals on the season, helped the Rock secure an 8-0 win over the Gold Miners. Photo by THOMAS PERRY /The Daily Press
Frédéric Cousineau had plenty of offensive support, Friday night, with Evan Katic netting his first NOJHL hat-trick in the contest
Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
Frédéric Cousineau made a triumphant return to the Timmins lineup, Friday night, backstopping the Rock to an 8-0 win over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners at the McIntyre Arena.
It was the first action for Cousineau since he suffered a lower-body injury late in a 3-1 win over the Gold Miners in Kirkland Lake, on Jan. 4.
Cousineau’s 29-save effort earned him his first NOJHL shutout and his 16th win of the season, lowering his goals against average to 2.14 and improving his save percentage to .935 in the process.
“It was really nice to be back in the net,” he said. “Our guys played really great in front of me. So, that made my job a lot easier. I am happy we got the two points.”
It would be hard to envision Cousineau’s return to game action going any smoother.
“I have been working hard since I got injured and I guess it paid off today,” he said.
“I was a bit scared at the start of the game, but as the game went on I started to feel more comfortable. The plan was just to go out there, not expect anything and have fun.
“It was important for me to get into one game before the playoffs, because I didn’t know how I was going to play after my injury.”
With that game in the win column, Cousineau is feeling 100 percent, health wise, and he is looking forward to the start of the playoffs.
“The playoffs are the best time of year,” he said. “I am looking forward to that.”
Cousineau, like Rock blue-liner Brady Bouchard, is hoping to get back to the Centennial Cup in 2026.
“We just have to focus on one game at a time,” he said. “I don’t think it matters who we play in the first round, if we play at our best, we can win everything.”
Cousineau had plenty of offensive support, Friday night, with Evan Katic netting his first NOJHL hat-trick in the contest.
Thomas Beard got the puck rolling for the Rock less than two minutes into the opening period when he scored his 18th goal of the season. That marker would stand up to be the game-winner.
Katic then added his eighth and ninth goals of the season, with the second being a power-play marker.
Nolan Masson’s eighth goal of the campaign closed out the scoring in the opening period, allowing the Rock to take a 4-0 lead into the first intermission.
Things settled down a bit for the Gold Miners in the middle frame, but Katic completed his hat-trick by netting his 10th goal of the season.
Blue-liner Jack Quevillon added another power-play marker, his fourth goal of the campaign, eight minutes into the third period.
Ryan Armitage followed with his 10th goal of the season two-and-a-half minutes later.
Kaeden McArthur then closed out the scoring when he netted his team-leading 36th goal of the season to make the final 8-0 in favour of the Rock.
Rock coach and general manager Brandon Perry was a lot happier with what he saw from his squad than he had been with a pair of overtime setbacks and a regulation loss to the Gold Miners.
“I just thought we were a little more hungry tonight,” he said. “We were skating, chasing down pucks, our routes were good on the forecheck. We had second and third efforts on pucks, instead of circling, little things. We just played a little harder tonight.”
The coach liked what he saw from the line of Katic, Maxfeld Shin and Matteo Paradiso.
“Every young player wants more (offensive opportunities) and a lot of guys don’t understand the responsibilities that come with wanting more ice time, being put in bigger spots. Evan got a chance tonight and he capitalized on it. I am super happy for him. He has been fantastic all season. He is a good kid, a pleasure to coach. He shows up every day and works.
“That line was awesome. Paradiso and Shin both had a little jump in their step tonight. They were good.”
There were plenty of other Rock players who made a favourable impression, as well.
“Ashton (Beriana) is so good,” Perry said. “Everybody thinks they have to put up 100 points, but that kid plays the game the right way in all three zones. You can trust him in any situation. His effort level is unmatched, every single night.
“Thomas (Beard) doesn’t need the love and maybe we take him for granted at times. He just shows up every single day and does his job. I love that kid and I get sad thinking about out time with him coming to an end (with him being a 20 year old). He is going to be thoroughly missed in this program.”
The entire Rock blue-line — Quevillon, Bouchard, Ben Climenhaga, Ben Hugessen and Braedyn Cyr — were solid, Friday night.
“Our D were good tonight, getting the puck up the ice and letting our forwards go to work,” Perry said. “Join the rush, don’t lead it is kind of what we say to our D.”
As one might expect, the coach was thrilled to see Cousineau back minding the Rock crease, Friday night.
“He is our MVP,” Perry said. “It was really unfortunate, with him being a 20-year-old guy, for him to have missed so much time, but we didn’t want to push him, obviously. He has got a lot of hockey ahead of him in his future.”
Cousineau’s 29-save performance earned him his first NOJHL shutout and his 16th win of the season.
Affiliate goalie Antoine Ethier, who turned aside 43 of the 31 shots the Rock directed his way, was tagged with the loss.
NOJHL NOTES — The Daily Press three stars of the game were Katic (three goals), Cousineau (29 saves, win, shutout) and Shin (three assists) … The Rock went 2-3 on the power play, while the Gold Miners were 0-2 with the man advantage … Official attendance at the McIntyre Arena was 852 … Friday’s other action saw the Voodoos top the Hearst Lumberjacks 6-4 in Powassan, the Iroquois Falls Storm edge the Rapids 4-3 in overtime in French River and the Greater Sudbury Cubs blast the Paper Kings 12-1 in Espanola … The Rock will close out their regular-season schedule when they take on the Paper Kings in Espanola, on Saturday, at 7 p.m.
