Photos: Turnbull’s Northern Photography
IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – Regrouping after letting an early lead get away, the Timmins Rock came back to down the Iroquois Falls Storm 6-3 Tuesday in the third game of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League East Division semifinal at Jus Jordan Arena.
With the victory, the Rock now lead the best-of-seven set 3-0 heading into Game 4 Thursday back in Iroquois Falls at 7:30 p.m.
Striking first, Timmins connected nearly two minutes in when Lucas Lowe went to the net on a give-and-go and finished off a feed across from Thomas Beard.
They added another midway through the frame when Harry Clark put a pass in front that was buried by Brant Romaniuk by netminder Connor Hatfield.
Scoring once more before the intermission Ryan Armitage converted from in close off a chance generated by Beard.
With the Rock seemingly in control deep into the second period, the Storm struck twice late to make it a 3-2 game after 40 minutes.
Lucas Peever began the mini outburst for Iroquois Falls as he put one past Dryden Riley from a sharp angle at 18:18.
The home side tacked on another in the final seconds of the frame when Ben Sherwin chipped one in while battling near the crease.
A third straight strike for the hosts tied it when Sherwin powered his way down the left wing and lifted in the equalizer at 3:23 into the third.
However, Timmins countered and regained the lead a half-minute later as Jack Kelly forced a turnover and dashed down the ice before notching the eventual game-winner.
Then, just 20 seconds after that, Clark made it 5-3 as he snagged a loose puck in his own end than flew down the ice and wired a high short-side shot over the shoulder of Hatfield.
Adding some insurance in the back-half of the period, the Rock pressured a giveaway, which led to Jack Anderson whipping in a shot into the upper portion of the net to round out the scoring.
NOJHL East Division semifinal
Iroquois Falls Storm vs. Timmins Rock
Timmins leads best-of-seven series 3-0
Game 1: Rock 5 Storm 1
Game 2: Rock 6 Storm 0
Game 3: Rock 6 Storm 3
Game 4: Thursday, March 28 @ Iroquois Falls 7:30 p.m. (Jus Jordan Arena)
Game 5*: Friday, March 29 @ Timmins 7:30 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
Game 6*: Sunday, March 31 @ Iroquois Falls 3 p.m. (Jus Jordan Arena)
Game 7*: Tuesday, April 2 @ Timmins 7:30 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
*-if necessary
