Photos: Katie Koks
ESPANOLA, Ont. – Devin Mauro and Lucas Signoretti both tallied three times as the Espanola Paper Kings went on to defeat the French River Rapids 9-4 Saturday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at the Regional Recreation Complex.
An Espanola power play helped them strike first Mauro connected nearly 12 minutes into the match-up as he snapped one by a partially screened Matthew Perdue in the French River net.
Coming back to tie it, French River’s Connor Picard found himself free in the slot and when he received a pass made no mistake in beating Paper Kings’ netminder Jake Marois.
Regrouping, the home side tacked on a pair to take a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.
Spencer Horgan put the host back on top as he snagged a clearing attempt in the neutral zone, then dashed into the Rapids zone where he unleashed a low wrist shot that soared past the glove of goalkeeper Matthew Perdue.
They then saw Lucas Signoretti supply his team-leading 33rd goal late in the frame as he tucked in a loose puck from close range.
Countering early in the middle session, French River scored twice on the man advantage to knot the affair at 3-3.
Their initial effort saw Matthew Campanella jam in a rebound off a Picard chance from in close while Maxsim Tugolukov levelled the proceedings by slamming in an Alexandre Dubuc feed from behind the net.
Going back in front in the latter stages of the period, Horgan potted his second of the night as he moved in from the right point and fired a shot off the post and in at 15:22.
Blowing it open in the third, Espanola outscored French River 5-1 in the session to win going away.
Mauro and Signoretti both notched two more goals to give them their hat tricks while Graydon Guthrie also found the back of the net.
Tyley Wolfe had the lone Rapids’ effort in the session.
The victory sees the Paper Kings move to 24-20-2-2 on the season while with the loss, the Rapids dropped to 7-39-1-1.
