saultsports Photos: Northern Lights Photography
HEARST, Ont. – A combined 13-goal night eventually saw the Hearst Lumberjacks prevail 7-6 over the French River Rapids Saturday in a multiple marker Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League bonanza at Claude Larose Recreation Centre.
The visiting Rapids took an early lead when Dominic Bzdyl converted on Lumberjacks’ starter Owen Bonthuis 4:37 into the first period.
Adding to their edge eight minutes later Michael Christopoulos corralled a pass between the circles from Alexandre Dubuc and whipped it past the blocker on Bonthuis.
A late push in the frame saw DonHeaven Veilleux tally twice in a 10-second span for Hearst to knot the affair at 2-2 after one.
His initial effort at 18:11 saw him take an Aiden Kalin feed in close and stuff it under French River goalkeeper Zachary Burleigh.
Then right after that, Veilleux grabbed another pass from Kalin and wired it upstairs from the right circle.
Building on their momentum in the middle frame, Hearst took the lead during a man advantage when Bronson Babyak pumped a rebound up top from the left of the crease at 5:19.
Bzdyl got that back later in the session after he made a nice move around a defender, then wired one high into the top left corner.
Retaking the lead before the second intermission, Hearst’s Tyler Patterson darted down the right wing, and while driving to the net, lifted in his 18th marker of the season.
Early in the third, Ty McKay made it 5-3 for the hosts in the opening minute when he jammed in a loose puck laying in front off a Julien Trudel attempt for the point.
Countering at 3:18, Zachary Bartzis pulled the guests to within one by chipping a play out of his own end, then darting down the right side before putting a shot through Bonthuis.
The high-scoring affair continued when Kalin collected another assist as a pass up to Henry Ouellet allowed him to cut to high right and put a back hand to the net that leaked through Burleigh.
Up a skater with half a period to play, French River’s Cameron Jansa benefitted from a giveaway in a prime scoring area and buried it.
However, Adam Shillinglaw, on the power play, put the Lumberjacks ahead by two as he zipped a shot into the top corner from the left circle.
Nicholas Tarantella entered in relief after the rest of the way for the Rapids.
One final tally saw Bzdyl find himself free in front in the final minute of regulation and convert for a third time in completing the evening’s offensive barrage.
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