High-flying Timmins Rock offence rolls over Rapids, Voodoos
The Timmins Rock’s oence kicked into high gear at the Noelville Arena Saturday night, as they swamped the Rapids 9-1.
It was the conclusion of a twogame regular-season opening weekend road trip that saw them knock off the Voodoos 5-1 in Powassan Friday night.
And for the second-straight game, it was Jack Kelly who netted the game-winning goal, this time a power-play marker.
Rock coach and general manager Brandon Perry was, for the most part, pleased with what he saw from his squad during the twogame road trip.
“Obviously, we are happy with the results, the guys played hard,” he said. “It was a little sloppy, which is to be expected at this time of the year. We will get back to work on Sunday and clean up some stu.”
The Rock jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first period of Saturday night’s contest and never looked back.
Ryan Armitage got the puck rolling when he scored his second goal of the season 2:26 into the contest.
The Rapids got back on even terms just over two minutes later when Michael Christopoulos scored his first goal of the season.
But Kelly put the Rock back in front to stay when he notched his second goal of the campaign.
And Brant Romaniuk expanded the Rock advantage when he netted his third goal of the season with just three seconds remaining in the opening frame.
Hayden Rynard picked up his second goal of the season 41 seconds into the second period.
Newcomer Ryan Boon then added the first goal of his NOJHL career to expand the Rock lead.
And just over a minute later Kaeden McArthur scored the first of his two goals in the game and on the season to send the Rock to the dressing room for the second intermission up 6-1.
The Rock oence continued to click on all cylinders when the puck dropped to start the third period, as Thomas Beard added his first goal of the season 4:36 into the frame.
McArthur added his second goal of the game and season less than two minutes later.
Aaron Shaw, seeing his first game action since suiting up with the TU18HL’s Schumacher Cubs during the 2021-22 campaign, then closed out the scoring by adding his first goal of the season just shy of the midway point in the period.
If there had been one question mark regarding the Rock heading into the regular season, it was who would step up to pick up some of the oensive slack created by the departures of Mason Svarich, Harry Clark and Liam Wells.
That question was clearly answered, as the Rock put up 14 goals during the two-game road trip.
“Our top guys, (Lucas) Lowe, McArthur and Romaniuk are as skilled as anybody in the league,” Perry said. “They will find ways to produce, so I wasn’t worried about them.
“Then you have got Kelly, Rynard and Beard, those three guys play the game the right way every single night. So, I knew they were going to produce and it was nice to see some young guys, some new guys stepping up and getting on the scoresheet.
“Obviously, it is just one weekend and two games, but it is definitely a step in the right direction and a start we welcome.”
The coach was impressed with a number of the new Rock skaters in the pair of weekend victories, as well.
“Aaron Shaw had a goal and an assist in his first regular-season game,” Perry said.