TIMMINS, Ont. – Riding the strength of a three-goal third period, the Timmins Rock went on to defeat the Iroquois Falls Storm 5-1 Friday in the opener of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League East Division semifinal at McIntyre Arena.
Capitalizing on the night’s first power play, Timmins connected early with Jack Kelly snagging a loose puck on the right side and whipping it past Iroquois Falls starter Connor Hatfield at 2:49.
Collecting an equalizer just over 10 minutes later, the Storm’s Patrice Lafontaine came out from the corner along the goal line and lifted an attempt that managed to get through Rock netminder Patrick Boivin.
Regaining the lead in the back half of the second stanza, Mason Svarich was there to backhand in a rebound off a Brant Romaniuk attempt that was blocked.
Taking their slim edge into the final frame, Timmins broke it open, beginning with Harry Clark picking off a play in the Iroquois Falls zone before darting down the ice on a breakaway, then moving to his left and lifting in his first of the series.
Romaniuk then extended the home side’s cushion at 8:46 as the hosts once again came out in transition and saw him work around a defender and put one short side on Hatfield.
Clark then capped off the outburst by coming in the back door and one-timing in a perfect Romaniuk feed from in deep, while up a skater, to round out the scoring.
Game 2 goes Sunday with a 3 p.m. matinee back at ‘The Mac’ and via FLOHockey.tv.
NOJHL East Division semifinal
Iroquois Falls Storm vs. Timmins Rock
Timmins leads best-of-seven series 1-0
Game 1: Rock 5 Storm 1
Game 2: Sunday, March 24 @ Timmins 3 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
Game 3: Tuesday, March 26 @ Iroquois Falls 7:30 p.m. (Jus Jordan Arena)
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
Game Photos:
Thomas Perry – The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
