HEARST, Ont. – The Hearst Lumberjacks picked up a pair of goals from Bradley Golant Friday as part of a 7-2 win over the Espanola Express in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at Claude Larose Arena.
The home side was quick to get the board in this one thanks Max Griffioen’s 10th of the year nearly two and a half minutes into the contest.
Hearst added to the lead at 15:01 of the first with Zack Dorval scoring while Shadow Reuben and Max Johnson picked up assists on the play.
The Lumberjacks added another before the first period was complete compliments of Nikko Morin a couple of shifts later.
Action in the middle frame saw Espanola get on the board quickly as Henry Laukkanen whipped one past Hearst goalkeeper Matt Kustra 27 seconds into the session and moments after an Express power play had begun.
The Lumberjacks got that back however at 3:41 thanks to Dawson Waddell’s first NOJHL goal.
Golant’s 15th added one more to Hearst’s offensive totals as they carried a 5-1 lead after two periods of play.
Reuben and Golant both scored early in the third to extend the Lumberjacks’ cushion before Josh Decoffe had one for Espanola midway through the frame to round out the scoring.
Samuel Bourdages chipped in with two assists to aid the winner’s cause.
Kustra made 21 stops to record the victory for Hearst.
Jacob Hutchings started for Espanola, but had to give way to Adam Scott with 9:05 left in the first.
Hutchings handled seven of eight attempts with Scott suffering the setback in relief as he saw 34 shots in defeat for the Express.
