N.O. Notes: Rapids, Rock seek revenge
Revenge could well be on the collective minds of the French River Rapids and Timmins Rock when they take to home ice in Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League play tonight.
Both the Rapids and Rock will be out to settle scores tonight as French River plays host to the Blind River Beavers and Timmins is home to the Iroquois Falls Eskis.
Though French River has a record of 0-4 to date as a first-year expansion team, two of the setbacks have been by one goal. But also on the French River loss column is an 11-2 thrashing that the Rapids were handed by the Beavers in Blind River.
Likewise, Timmins will be out to try to make amends tonight when Iroquois Falls comes to town. In an earlier match between the two teams in Iroquois Falls, the Rock squandered four two-goal leads and lost 8-6 to the Eskis.
RANKS OF THE UNDEFEATED
Four NOJHL teams — two in each of the East and West divisions — are currently undefeated.
Powassan Voodoos are on top of the East Division with a record of 5-0 while the Cochrane Crunch is 4-0.
And in the West Division, the reigning champion Soo Thunderbirds are 5-0 and the Rayside-Balfour Canadians are 4-0.
But showdowns between unbeaten teams await.
Cochrane is home to Rayside on Thursday night before playing host to the T-Birds of the Soo on Friday evening.
CRUNCH THE NUMBERS
Cochrane currently boasts the top three scorers in the NOJHL.
Hunter Atchison leads the NOJHL scoring parade with 6-12-18 totals — ahead of Crunch teammates Seamus Maguire at 5-8-13 and Dustin Cordeiro at 10-1-11.
Took in the Rock Eskis game tonight and I will have to say there was zero flow in that one. Check the box score and you’ll see a pleather of garbage penalties that did nothing but turn it in to a 2 hour 45 minute snoozer as far as I’m concerned. If the league mandate is to call all the chincy stuff I’ll keep my $12 and head to the roller derby. What has happened to good tough hockey? Seems you throw a hit now and you’re off to the box.