Photos: Tim Bates / OJHL Images
TRENTON, Ont. – Riding the strength of three power play markers, MHL North went on to top NOJHL West 5-1 Wednesday in Day 3 play at the Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge at Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens.
Going to work early, while up a skater, the Maritime Hockey League side began the scoring just over three minutes into the match-up when Cam Thomson fed Dominic Leblanc in the high slot, who whipped a one-timer past the glove of NOJHL West starter Andrew Gaulton.
A two-man advantage helped MHL North go up by a pair as they worked the puck around nicely and got it to Justin David parked in front, who had a couple of cracks at it before jamming it in by a sprawled Gaulton.
Adding another in the final moments of the first, Bennett Kuhnlein made it 3-0 after one as he knocked in a rebound off a Dominic Leblanc attempt from the left side.
Going up by four, 44 seconds into the final frame, Sam McFarlane blasted one home from the left circle to help put the game out of reach.
A third extra-man marker extended the MHL cushion, with Manix Sarrasin adding to the one-sided result, five minutes into the session.
Eventually solving MHL North netminder Adam Lecours midway through the period, defenceman Andrey Manov (Blind River Beavers) led a rush into the zone, then fired a shot that was stopped, but he was right there to deposit the rebound to wrap-up the scoring.
Collecting player of the game recognition were Manov and Leblanc.
NOJHL regular season play resumes tonight as the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners host the Iroquois Falls in a 7 p.m. start at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex and on FLOHockey.tv.
