saultsports Photos: Northern Lights Photography
HEARST, Ont. – Jack Kelly’s second goal of the game, on an impressive individual effort in the latter stages of the contest, proved to be the difference maker as the Timmins Rock pulled out a narrow 3-2 triumph over the Hearst Lumberjacks Saturday night in a hard-fought Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League get together at Claude Larose Recreation Centre.
A fast-paced first period brought plenty of tempo between the two rivals, but did not produce a goal as the clubs went to their respective dressing rooms still in search of an initial tally.
In the second stanza, Timmins broke the deadlock moments into a man advantage as Lucas Lowe stuffed in a spinning backhand past Hearst netminder Alexandre Boivin at 10:41.
Another extra-man effort from the Rock put them up a pair when Kelly took a feed from Hayden Rynard in the right circle and pumped it past Boivin.
Countering quickly, Adam Shillinglaw put the Lumberjacks on the board at 17:55 by slamming in a pass by Dryden Riley in the Timmins net, from Henry Ouellet down low.
Moving to the third period, the home side drew level when Aidan Kalin reached the 20-goal plateau on the season as he slammed in a rebound off a Bronson Babyak chance off a three-on-one.
Retaking the lead deep in regulation, Kelly powered his way down the right wing and while driving hard to the net, lifted in what proved to be the game-winner up into the top right corner, as he too reached the 20-tally mark on the campaign.
Hearst got Boivin out in late going in an effort to knot the affair once more, but the Rock held firm defensively to secure the road victory.
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