Timmins Rock forward Evan Katic celebrates his first-period goal during Game 2 of their NOJHL quarterfinal series against the Soo Thunderbirds at the McIntyre Arena, Saturday night. Katic’s first goal of the playoffs gave the Rock a 1-0 lead in a game they would go on to win 6-1, evening the best-of-seven series at 1-1 heading into Game 3 in Sault Ste. Marie, on Tuesday. Photo by THOMAS PERRY /The Daily Press
Unlike Friday night, the Timmins Rock never trailed in Saturday night’s contest — jumping out to a 1-0 first-period lead and never looking back
Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
Maxx Hamelin and Kaeden McArthur combined for four goals as the Timmins Rock rolled over the Soo Thunderbirds 6-1 at the McIntyre Arena, Saturday night.
The victory evened their best-of-seven NOJHL quarterfinal series at 1-1 after the Thunderbirds took a 4-3 overtime decision in Game 1 at the McIntyre Arena, Friday night.
Unlike Friday night, the Rock never trailed in Saturday night’s contest — jumping out to a 1-0 first-period lead and never looking back.
“It was a real good game,” said Rock coach and general manager Brandon Perry. “A little bit of a slow start again, I thought, but it was a real good effort from our group.”
Slow start, or not, the Rock outshot the Thunderbirds 15-5 in the opening 20 minutes of action and Evan Katic’s first goal of the playoffs, midway through the opening period gave the Rock a 1-0 lead.
Hamelin’s first of two goals on the night and second of the playoffs then doubled the Rock advantage 26 seconds into the middle frame. That marker would stand up to be the game-winning goal.
“It was a beautiful play,” he said. “Q (blue-liner Jack Quevillon drove the puck up, drove it in deep, took a hit and made a play and (Lucas) Lowe batted it down.
“I had the easy part, putting the puck in the net.”
Hamelin beat Thunderbirds goalie Nathan Maguire low on the blocker side, through a screen.
“It would have been a tough shot to save,” he said. “He is a good goalie and he knows his angles well, but we adapted and we adjusted and we were able to beat him.”
The Thunderbirds finally hit the scoresheet just over a minute later when blue-liner Issy Parsa netted a power-play marker, his first goal of the playoffs.
McArthur responded with a power-play marker of his own, his first of two goals on the night and second of the playoffs, to make it a 3-1 hockey game in favour of the Rock.
The Rock took that advantage into the second intermission and then built upon it when the puck dropped to signal the resumption of action in the third period.
McArthur netted his second goal of the night and third of the playoffs 26 seconds into the frame.
Thomas Beard added a power-play marker, his first tally of the playoffs, five minutes later.
That signaled the end of Maguire’s night, with Ryan Hicks coming on in relief.
It would not matter, however, as Hamelin closed out the scoring when he netted a power-play marker, his second goal of the night and third of the playoffs, with seven minutes remaining in the contest.
Perry was impressed by what he saw from the line of Hamelin, McArthur and Lowe, Saturday night.
“Out top line was really good,” he said. “You need your best players to be your best players at this time of year and they were that tonight.”
Katic’s performance in all three zones earned him a little extra praise, as well.
“He was real good tonight,” Perry said. “He has been a real solid player for us and we love him here. He is playing great hockey.”
Rock goalie Frédéric Cousineau didn’t face a lot of shots, Saturday night, but a number of the ones he did face were challenging to stop.
“Freddy was solid for us tonight and he was real good, Friday night, as well,” Perry said. “It was just an unfortunate bounce in OT, but he was real good tonight.”
From top to bottom, the Rock lineup was solid from opening puck drop to the final buzzer, Saturday night.
“What a battle this was,” Perry said. “You saw what happened in the third period and the way they (the Thunderbirds) were playing. Kudos to our guys for keeping their cool.”
Referees Joe Park and Travis Ford were kept busy in the final frame, breaking out their notebooks on a number of occasions to keep track of the infractions.
When all was said and done, the Thunderbirds took 10 penalties, while the Rock were assessed eight.
Highlighting the spirited ending to the game was a battle between Rock blue-liner Brady Bouchard and Thunderbirds forward Owen Murphy that resulted in both receiving five-minute majors for fighting and game misconducts.
Rock blue-liner Ben Hugessen had to be helped off the ice after suffering what appeared to be a lower-body injury in the third period.
Hamelin noted he has developed solid chemistry with McArthur and Lowe.
“We just know where each other are out on the ice,” he said. “We had a really good week of practice. We had played together before at various points throughout the regular season.”
Hamelin’s family was in town for the first two games of the series and they will be going to Sault Ste. Marie to watch Games 3 and 4, as well.
His little brother, Lucas, got to participate in the shoot-to-win prior to the start of the second intermission, but failed to put any of his three pucks into the net to claim the prize.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Hamelin said, when asked if that’s proof he, not his brother, has the hands in the family. “He is more of a top corner type guy.”
“That’s the plan,” he said.
Cousineau stopped 23 of the 24 shots he faced to earn his first win of the playoffs.
Maguire, who turned aside 38 of the 43 shots the Rock directed his way in his 45:51 of work, was tagged with the loss.
Hicks stopped five of the six shots he faced in his 14:09 of relief.
NOJHL NOTES — The Daily Press three stars of the game were Hamelin (two goals, two assists), McArthur (two goals, one assist) and Katic (one goal, one assist) … The Rock went 3-5 on the power play, while the Thunderbirds were 1-6 with the man advantage … Official attendance at the McIntyre Arena was 711 … Saturday’s other action saw the Lumberjacks blank the Espanola Paper Kings 7-0 in Hearst to take a 2-0 lead in their series and the Soo Eagles soar to a 6-1 win over the Voodoos in Powassan to take a 2-0 lead in their series … The Rock will return to action on Tuesday when they face off against the Thunderbirds in Game 3 at the John Rhodes Community Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, at 7 p.m.
