Game Photos: Dal Photography
FRENCH RIVER – The Timmins Rock saw their captain, Tyler Schwindt, tally three times to lead his side to a 5-2 triumph over the French River Rapids Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at Noelville Arena.
Timmins got things going offensively during a man advantage opportunity in the first frame as Schwindt banged in the rebound off a Bode Bunford shot from the point at 12:48.
French River came back to tie it three minutes later when Spencer Borg potted his third of the season after taking a back pass from Josh Russell, then darting down the left wing before ripping one over the glove of Rock netminder Gavin McCarthy.
The Rock answered right back on the next shift though thanks to Schwindt making no mistake on a wrister from the slot.
Halfway through the middle stanza, Timmins tallied twice in quick succession to go up 4-1.
Tyler Gilberds began the outburst by knocking the puck out of mid-air then going in where he tucked the disk between the legs of Rapids netminder Cole Sheffield.
It was more from the visitors 66 seconds later as Christopher Englebert darted into the opponent’s zone with speed, then moved left and quickly went bar down on the right side of the net.
In the third, French River got one back moments into a man advantage as Levi Siau put a low shot from the left circle towards the net that hit the skate of a Rock defender and skipped into the open side with 6:19 to go in regulation.
An aggressive Timmins forecheck helped wrap it up late though as it allowed Schwindt to snap in his third of the night with just over a minute to go for his 12th of the season, which tied him for the league lead in that department.
McCarthy made 29 saves to pick up the win while Sheffield faced 39 shots against in defeat.
