Quick start helps sends Elliot Lake past French River

ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – The Elliot Lake Wildcats rode the strength of three first period goals to help send them on their way to an eventual 4-2 victory over the French River Rapids in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Saturday night at Centennial Arena.

A 21-shot barrage in the opening 20 minutes helped Elliot Lake gain the upper hand in the contest.

Tanner Hicks started the outburst by scoring just six seconds into the contest to quickly get the Wildcats going offensively.

Then at the beginning of a two-man advantage, Sean Hagan connected at 14:48 to put the home side up by a pair.

Still on the power play, Elliot Lake added another on a Noah Minns marker as his 17th of the season also extended a consecutive game point streak to 11 in succession.

Moving on to the middle stanza, it was the Rapids who picked up the lone tally of the frame on a late man advantage effort with Levi Siau striking for an 18th time on the campaign with help from Connor Loft.

It was more French River in the third as Siau scored again on the power play to bring the guests to within one with over 12 minutes to go.

Special teams came into play for a fifth time in the game and saw the final tally of the evening provided with just under six minutes remaining in regulation as Caleb Minns scored on the power play in providing the evening’s final marker.

Eric Conley and Andrew Maltby chipped in with two assists apiece to aid the Wildcats cause.

Shots on goal in the contest saw Elliot Lake hold a 51-46 edge with Dominic Boily recording the victory while Carson Murison suffered the setback.