Timmins Rock forward Ethan Pool prepares to deflect a shot on Elliot Lake Red Wings goalie Cameron Smith during the first period of Friday night’s NOJHL contest at the McIntyre Arena. Pool scored a goal and added two assists as the Rock thumped the Red Wings 9-1. The Rock will host the Powassan Voodoos at the McIntyre Arena on Sunday, at 3 p.m. THOMAS PERRY/THE DAILY PRESS
Even though they were missing eight regulars from their lineup, the Timmins Rock had little difficulty rolling to a 9-1 win over the Elliot Lake Red Wings at the McIntyre Arena Friday night.
Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
TIMMINS – Even though they were missing eight regulars from their lineup, the Timmins Rock had little difficulty rolling to a 9-1 win over the Elliot Lake Red Wings at the McIntyre Arena Friday night.
With six players — Lucas Piekarczyk (four of four), Brady Harroun (one of one), Liam Wells (one of 10), Evan Grigor (one of two), Lucas Lowe (one of two) and Felix Cadieux-Fredette (indefinite, pending hearing) — suspended and two others — Kaeden McArthur (upper-body) and Hayden Rynard (lower-body) — injured, the Rock were forced to dress four affiliate players.
In addition, coach and general manager Brandon Perry was not behind the bench as he served the first of his three-game suspension, picked up at the end of Monday afternoon’s home-ice loss to the Hearst Lumberjacks.
Early on, it looked like the Red Wings might take advantage of their host’s misfortune with Alex Antoine scoring his 10th goal of the season 5:36 into the contest.
Things went downhill from there for the visitors, however, as the Rock scored three times in the final five minutes of the opening period to take a 3-1 lead.
Blue-liner Kyle Trottier got the puck rolling when he netted a power-play marker, his fifth goal of the season.
Fellow blue-liner Christophe Petit then netted what would prove to be the game-winning goal, his second tally of the season a minute and a half later.
“It felt pretty good to get a goal,” he said.
“I just looked up and the goalie wasn’t there, but I didn’t have a very good angle, so I was just trying to get it on net.
“I just wanted to get it past the first guy, on the net for a rebound or something, but it went in and I will take it.”
Ethan Pool then added another power-play marker, his seventh goal of the season, two minutes later to close out the scoring in the period.
The Rock built upon their lead 3:15 into the middle frame when Nolan Ring netted the home side’s third power-play marker, his 17th goal of the season.
Captain Nicolas Pigeon then hit the 20-goal plateau with the first of his two tallies on the night to make it a 5-1 hockey game.
Yan Bessette then expanded the Rock advantage to five goals when he collected his 18th tally of the season.
The third period, like the middle stanza, was all Rock, as the home side added three more goals to make the final 9-1.
Affiliate player Thomas Beard scored his fifth goal of the season at the 8:51 mark.
Pigeon then netted the Rock’s fourth power-play marker of game, his second goal of the night and 21st of the season.
Affiliate player Ian Lachance then converted a cross-crease pass from blue-liner Brandon Rossetti for the first goal of his NOJHL career.
That goal spelled the end of Red Wings starting goalie Cameron Smith’s night, with Sean Guerin coming on in relief.
Better known for his defensive prowess, Petit doubled his goal total Friday night, something it would take the Rock’s top sniper, Harroun, who has 40 on the season to lead the NOJHL, some time to accomplish.
“I think I should (give him some lessons on how to score at the next Rock practice,” he said.
In addition to netting his second goal of the season, Petit also earned his 15th assist in the contest.
“Being a defensive defenceman I don’t score a lot of goals, so I like to get assists to help other guys score some goals,” he said.
Petit admitted it took the Rock few shifts to feel comfortable with so many affiliate players in the lineup Friday night.
“It took us something like 10 minutes to find our game,” he said.
“Then, once we got going, the boys played a hell of a good game.”
Lachance, who was playing his third game with the Rock as an affiliate player, now has three NOJHL points.
“It feels really good to get my first NOJHL goal tonight,” he said.
“I had a really good chance at the start of the third period, but I whiffed on a one-timer.
“So, when I got the pass from Rossetti I had an open net and I just put it home, a tap in.”
Lachance was one of four Timmins Majors in the Rock lineup Friday night, along with Beard, Travis Poan and Ryan Armitage.
“I was happy to be out there with them, they are super good guys,” he said.
Jacob Brown stopped 10 of the 11 shots he faced to earn his 16th win of the season for the Rock.
Smith, who turned aside 35 of the 44 shots the Rock directed his way in his 56:48 of work, was tagged with the loss.
Guerin blocked both shots he faced during his 3:12 of relief.
NOJHL NOTES — The Daily Press three stars of the game were Petit, Pigeon and Pool … The Rock went 4-7 on the power play, while the Red Wings were 0-3 with the man advantage … Official attendance at the McIntyre Arena was 795 … Friday’s other action saw the Powassan Voodoos fly past the Crunch 8-1 in Cochrane, the Beavers dump the Greater Sudbury Cubs 7-2 in Blind River and the Soo Thunderbirds top the Eagles 5-1 in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. … The Rock will host the Voodoos at the McIntyre Arena on Sunday, at 3 p.m.
