NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
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IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – A Mason Svarich marker, 5:15 into overtime, gave the Timmins Rock a 3-2 win against the Iroquois Falls Storm Thursday in Game 4 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League East Division semifinal at Jus Jordan Arena.
The outcome results in a four-game sweep for the Rock in the series and sends them to the East Final against either the Powassan Voodoos or Hearst Lumberjacks.
Powassan currently leads that best-of-seven match-up 3-1 heading into Game 5 Friday in Hearst.
Iroquois Falls opened the scoring in this one after converting on a man advantage 11:32 into the proceedings with Patrice Lafontaine battling in front and lifting one over a downed Patrick Boivin in the Timmins net.
Drawing even in the back half of the second stanza, Brant Romaniuk sent Svarich in on a two-on-one where he elected to shoot and saw him sizzle one by the blocker of Storm goaltender Connor Hatfield.
Staying 1-1 into the third, Iroquois Falls retook the lead when Andrew Scott swiped a bouncing puck from the Rock defenceman and quickly whipped it in from the slot.
Hitting the ice on a line change, Kaeden McArthur tied it to force extra time as he worked his way out of the corner and in between the circles where his knuckling attempt towards the target found its way in with 5:15 remaining in regulation.
In OT, Svarich won it after breaking free at his own blueline, then racing down the ice and managing to put the series-winner through the legs of Hatfield to end it and send Timmins on to the divisional final.
NOJHL East Division semifinal
Iroquois Falls Storm vs. Timmins Rock
Timmins wins best-of-seven series 4-0
Game 1: Rock 5 Storm 1
Game 2: Rock 6 Storm 0
Game 3: Rock 6 Storm 3
Game 4: Rock 3 Storm 2 (OT)
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