The Hearst Lumberjacks have acquired forward Cameron Menard, shown here in action during an NOJHL game against the Timmins Rock at the McIntyre Arena, from the Espanola Paper Kings, along with forward Luc Warner and goalie Jack Helkie in exchange for player development fees. Rock fans will get a look at the newest Lumberjacks when Hearst visits the McIntyre Arena, on on Friday, Jan. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Photo by FILE /The Daily Press
Timmins Rock sniper Brant Romaniuk has departed for the bright lights of Sherwood Park, Alta., and the outlaw BCHL’s Crusaders
Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
The Hearst Lumberjacks must not like looking up at their arch rivals, the Timmins Rock, in the NOJHL standings.
That might be why the team delivered an early Christmas present to its fans, acquiring a trio of Espanola Paper Kings, each in exchange for a player development fee, on Friday — just prior to the NOJHL’s holiday roster freeze.
Headlining the trio is forward Cameron Menard (30, 30-25-55, 44), who sits third in the NOJHL scoring race, trailing only new teammate
Mathieu Comeau (28, 21-39-60, 14) and Greater Sudbury Cubs forward
Nolan Newton (28, 25-32-57, 26).
And Menard’s 30 goals have him in top spot in the NOJHL in that category, five up on Newton’s 25.
Forward Luc Warner (17, 6-11-17, 4) may not be a match for Menard’s numbers, but he should provide the Lumberjacks with some solid secondary scoring.
Prior to adding Menard and Warner, the Lumberjacks 143 goals were second only to the 159 scored by the Cubs, but Greater Sudbury has played four more games at this point in the season.
Meanwhile, the Rock — who have played the same number of games as the Lumberjacks — are third in scoring, with 134 goals.
Of course, those totals will not be helped by the departure of the Rock’s top sniper, Brant Romaniuk (24, 22-27-49, 8), for the bright lights of Sherwood Park, Alta., and the outlaw BCHL’s Crusaders.
Romaniuk scored a power-play goal in his first game with the Crusaders, a 3-2 overtime loss to the Spruce Grove Saints.
The third former Paper King joining the Lumberjacks is goalie
Jack Helkie (1,033:00, 8-9-1-0, 3, 3.60, .920).
While most of Helkie’s numbers might not jump off the page, his three shutouts lead all NOJHL goalies and his. 920 save percentage has him tied for third with Rock 16-year-old rookie Ayden Mullen (632:00, 8-1-1-0, 1, 2.56, .920).
They trail only Frédéric Cousineau (1,057:00, 0, 14-4-0-0, 0, 2.33, .930), of the Rock, and Nathan Maguire (601:00, 9-0-1-0, 1, 2.20, .924).
Helkie joins a Lumberjacks crease already manned by William Stonehouse (202:00, 3-1-0-0, 0, 2.97, .901) and Owen Bonthuis (674:00, 8-3-0-0, 1, 3.20, .901).
Fans will get an opportunity to see how the departure of Romaniuk from Timmins and the addition of Menard, Warner and Helkie in Hearst affects the balance of power atop the NOJHL when the Rock host the Lumberjacks at the McIntyre Arena, on Friday, Jan. 16, at 7:30 p.m.
Prior to that, the Rock will open the second half of their NOJHL schedule with a game against the Gold Miners at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex, on Sunday, Jan. 4, at 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Lumberjacks will host the Iroquois Falls Storm at the Claude Larose Recreation Centre, on Saturday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m., to get their second half underway.
