TIMMINS, Ont. – Rebounding from a two-goal deficit, the Timmins Rock countered with five unanswered tallies to defeat the Soo Eagles 5-2 Sunday evening in Game 6 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League quarter-final affair at McIntyre Arena.
With the result, the Rock takes the best-of-seven series 4-2 and will move on to meet either the Greater Sudbury Cubs, or Hearst Lumberjacks, in NOJHL semifinal action.
After withstanding a pair of early Timmins’ man advantage opportunities, Sault Ste. Marie built on that by opening the scoring 6:20 into the contest.
On the goal, the Eagles’ Alex Povorozniouk skated along the boards in Rock territory before lifting a backhand in front to an open Anden Marceau who controlled it while spinning then put the puck through netminder Dryden Riley.
After handling multiple Timmins’ power play chances, the Soo converted on their first, six and a half minutes into the second stanza, when Povorozniouk jammed one in off an Evan Hoglund shot.
The home side were quick to counter and got on the board at 7:34 as Lucas Lowe took a pass from Brant Romaniuk and wired it off the crossbar and in, beating Eagles’ starter Jace Knoerle.
Timmins then drew level right after that thanks to Clark Scaddan, who snagged a loose puck in close and guided in a backhand for his first of the playoffs.
A third in the session saw the Rock take the lead after Matthew Kim darted up the ice out of his own zone with speed then fed an unguarded Hayden Rynard streaking to the net who ripped one upstairs on Knoerle at 16:42.
Action in the third period saw Timmins push the pace, but some big stops by the Soo netminder kept it close.
Heading deep into regulation, the Eagles got Knoerle out for an extra skater to try and tie it.
However, empty net markers in the final minute off the sticks of Reece Liu and Kai Clayton helped wrap-up the series for the Rock.
NOJHL quarter-final
No. 4 Timmins Rock vs. No. 5 Soo Eagles
Rock win best-of-seven series 4-2
Game 1: Rock 4 Eagles 1
Game 2: Rock 4 Eagles 0
Game 3: Eagles 5 Rock 3
Game 4: Rock 3 Eagles 2
Game 5: Eagles 5 Rock 3
Game 6: Rock 5 Eagles 2
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