Photos: Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – The Iroquois Falls Storm had to withstand a valiant comeback bid from the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners before eventually prevailing 7-5 Saturday evening in a high-scoring Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
The Storm’s Lucas Peever began the night’s scoring less than two minutes in as he snagged a loose puck in the crease and stuffed it past Gold Miners goaltender Matis Bureau-Morel.
Countering quickly, Kirkland Lake drew level 50 seconds later as Josh Hall made a nice backhand chip pass ahead that sent Mason Brownlee in alone and saw him snap a low blocker-side attempt by Iroquois Falls starter Maverick Fletcher.
Coming in on a shorthanded two-on-one midway through the first period, the home side took the lead as Brownlee sent a nice pass across to Josh Hall in the slot where he whipped it in for his first NOJHL goal.
Tying it up late in the frame, Remi Gendron notched his fifth of the season as he dashed into the Kirkland Lake zone and snapped a rising shot over the glove of Bureau-Morel and into the top right-hand corner.
Moving to the middle frame, the Storm went back on top at 2:22 off a turnover that allowed Jack Jarvis to set-up Jordan Mayo in close.
Benjamin Coatham’s initial NOJHL marker then made it 4-2 Iroquois Falls and he lifted in an attempt from the left point.
The tally resulted in a change in net for the Gold Miners, with Kael Moberg entering in relief.
However, Jaden Lyons made it 5-2 at 6:01 as he stuffed in a backhand laying in the crease.
Coatham then collected another, during a power play, as he pumped in a one-timer from the right circle, off a cross-ice feed.
Kirkland Lake got one back, during a man advantage, that saw Trent Nobes wire one upstairs for his team-leading ninth goal of the season.
In the third period, the Gold Miners battled back to make it interesting with a couple of tallies to make it a 6-5 game.
After Evan Snyder converted by banging in a rebound, Nobes clicked on the power play as he powered his way out of the corner and ripped in his second of the night.
However, a late empty netter from the Storm’s Jarvis in the final minute helped secure the road victory.
The win moves Iroquois Falls to 9-14-0-1 overall, while the narrow loss sees Kirkland Lake dip to 2-19-0-2.
