NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
************************
A four-goal first period outburst was enough to lead the Hearst Lumberjacks to an eventual 5-3 victory over the Soo Eagles Friday evening in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at Pullar Stadium.
The Lumberjacks initial tally saw a turnover pressured behind the net go in front to an open Henry Ouellet, who wasted little time in snapping a shot high over the glove of Eagles’ starter Jace Knoerle to give the guests the lead, nearly six minutes in.
Hearst then added another at 15:08 of the first period with Mathieu Comeau coming down the left wing and neatly picking the short side corner for his seventh goal of the season.
Not done there, the Lumberjacks banged in two more late in the session to go up by four after one.
Running a point streak to 11, Aiden Kalin clicked on a power play as he finished off some crisp puck movement with a snap shot from the left side.
The visitors then saw DonHeaven Veilleux convert at even strength with a sizzler from the circle in the final minute.
Sault Ste. Marie made a goaltending change to begin the middle frame, with Mason Burkes entering in relief.
Buoyed by the move, Landon Stevens wired one in from the slot just 14 seconds into the session by hammering in a blast from between the circles that eluded Hearst goaltender Alexandre Boivin.
The NOJHL’s rookie of the month for October then brought the Soo to within a pair 12 minutes later as Alex Povorozniouk scored during a man advantage as he moved in from the point and wired a shot through bodies.
Getting that back at 16:45 Hearst captain Adam Shillinglaw powered his way down the right side where he smartly picked the top corner on Burkes.
Lucas Caulfield provided the lone marker in the final frame as the Eagles’ forward redirected a Povorozniouk chance from down low at 13:18 to cap off the scoring.
The outcome sees the Lumberjacks move to 11-4-0-0 on the season and in defeat the Eagles dipped to 8-6-0-1.
************************
