IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – An impressive tally from Lucas Willoughby near the midway point of the contest proved to be the game-winner as the Iroquois Falls Storm earned a 4-2 decision over the Timmins Rock Sunday afternoon in a chippy Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League meeting at Jus Jordan Arena.
The Storm got the early edge, via the power play, when Raek Dianov slammed in a nifty cross-crease pass from Carter Jamieson, that left Rock netminder Ayden Mullen with little chance on it.
Notching another early in the second stanza, Jamieson spun and pulled up in the right circle before snapping a rising attempt into the top left corner past the outstretched arm of a Timmins’ defender.
Countering quickly, Diego Da Silva put the Rock on the board, as after falling, came out from behind the net and pulled off ‘A Michigan’ by heaving one upstairs on Storm starter Nathan Boudreau.
Answering with an notable effort of his own, Willoughby weaved through traffic in the neutral zone, then worked his way around a couple of defenders in deep and while skating behind the net, banked in his 10th goal with an effort off the back of Mullen and in.
A friendly bounce nearly nine minutes into the third saw Alexandre St. Pierre of the Storm heave a chance to the crease from a tight angle that was knocked down by a Timmins defenceman, but the puck bounced off the ice and skipped over the pad of the Rock goalkeeper and in.
Inching closer with 4:51 remaining, the Rock’s Maxx Hamelin took a nice pass across from Nolan Masson on the left side and pumped it upstairs on Boudreau.
Timmins then pulled their goaltender in the late going for an extra attacker, but Iroquois Falls held firm defensively in earning the win.
With the outcome, the Storm raise their record to 13-24-2-3 to remain one point behind Blind River for eighth spot in the standings in competition for a playoff spot.
With the loss, the Rock fall to 30-10-0-1.
