Timmins Rock forward Lucas Lowe watches as blue-liner Felix Cadieux-Fredette’s point shot beats Iroquois Falls Storm goalie Connor Hatfield during the second period of Friday night’s NOJHL contest at the Jus Jordan Arena. The power-play marker gave the Rock a 2-1 game they would go on to win 6-5 in a shootout. THOMAS PERRY/THE DAILY PRESS
Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
IROQUOIS FALLS — The Timmins Rock had to overcome a two-goal third-period deficit to earn a 6-5 shootout victory over the Storm at the Jus Jordan Arena Friday night.
After taking a 3-1 lead in the contest, the Rock saw the Storm score four-straight goals to go up 5-3 13-and-a-half minutes into the third period.
The Rock responded with a pair of goals 34 seconds apart, however, to tie things up and force overtime.
Thomas Beard’s second marker of the game and 15th of the season cut the Rock’s deficit to a single goal and Brant Romaniuk’s 10th tally of the campaign tied things up.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net during the five-minute three-on-three session, setting the stage for the shootout.
Storm goalie Connor Hatfield foiled the first three Rock shooters Romaniuk, Harry Clark and Nolan Ring, while Timmins goalie Patrick Boivin denied the initial three Iroquois Falls attempts, off the sticks of Landon Trethewey, Patrice Lafontaine and Michael Leech.
The fourth Rock shooter, Henry McLellan, made no mistake on his attempt, drilling the puck past Hatfield.
After watching the previous shooters take their time before getting off their attempts, McLellan didn’t hesitate to use speed to his advantage.
“Guys were trying to out stickhandle him but I thought I could take it to the net quick and catch him off guard, forehand, top shelf,” he said.
“I had actually been thinking of going backhand, but the puck started bobbling on me a little bit, so I decided to just take the quick shot.”
That meant Max Jugnauth would have to beat Boivin for the shootout to continue, but the Rock goalie stood tall, securing the extra point for his side.
“I just had to make the saves I could and McLellan put a nice goal top shelf,” Boivin said.
“That’s a big win right there.”
Boivin noted he tried to keep a positive attitude as the game progressed, knowing it wouldn’t do any good to dwell on the shots that had beaten him earlier in the contest.
“You never want to let in five goals, but that’s hockey,” he said.
“It was a great hockey game.”
The two teams exchanged first period goals, with Lucas Lowe netting his 11th of the season for the Rock and Ben Sherwin scoring a power-play marker for the Storm, his ninth of the campaign.
A pair of power-play markers, the first with the visitors enjoying a two-man advantage, allowed the Rock to take a 3-1 lead in the second period.
Captain Felix Cadieux-Fredette picked up his second goal of the season and Beard added the first of his two tallies on the night and 14th of the campaign.
The Storm got one back before the intermission, however, as Jugnauth scored a power-play marker, his first of two tallies in the game and 10 of the season.
Lafontaine’s unassisted effort, his eighth goal of the season, just over two minutes into the third period tied things up at 3-3.
Jack Kelly had an opportunity to interrupt the Storm scoring streak when he was awarded a penalty shot at the 6:26 mark of the frame, but his attempt was denied by Hatfield.
Andre Cho then gave the Storm their first lead of the night shortly after the midway point in the frame when he scored his 10th goal of the season.
Jugnauth’s second goal of the game and 11th of the campaign then increased the Storm advantage to 5-3.
That set the stage for the Rock’s rally, which began 38 seconds later.
Even so, the Storm had an excellent opportunity to win it in regulation when Charlie Crump was awarded a penalty shot with 1.3 seconds remaining on the clock. Boivin was up to the task, however, making the save to force overtime.
Boivin, who was making his 100th NOJHL start, turned aside 27 of the 32 shots he faced to earn his 13th win of the season.
Hatfield, who blocked 77 of the 82 shots the Rock directed his way, was tagged with the loss.
NOJHL NOTES — The three stars of the game were Hatfield, Boivin and McLellan … The Rock went 2-9 on the power play, while the Storm were 2-4 with the man advantage … A first-period fight saw Rock forward Liam Wells and Storm forward Tyson Klimsiak ejected after each received five-minute majors and game misconducts. Then, in the second period, Rock forward Jaden Lyons and Storm Tyler Corbett were also kicked out after each being assessed five-minute majors for fighting and game misconducts … Official attendance at the Jus Jordan Arena was 620 … Friday’s other action saw the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners upset the Lumberjacks 4-1 in Hearst, the Voodoos edge the Espanola Paper Kings 5-4 in Powassan and the Thunderbirds double up the Blind River Beavers 6-3 in Sault Ste. Marie … The Rock will return to action on Saturday when they travel to French River for a game against the Rapids.
