COCHENOUR, Ont. – Nic Herringer scored twice and assisted on another to help lift the English River Miners to a 5-2 victory over the Fort Frances Lakers Monday in Superior International Junior Hockey League action at Cochenour Arena.
Buoyed by the return of their head coach and general manager Derek Sweet-Coulter, who arrived back after helping Canada West, as an assistant coach, mine gold and win the World Junior A Challenge in Truro, N.S., English River got off to a quick start with Matt O’Neill collecting his seventh goal of the season just 48 seconds into the contest.
For Frances did get that back two minutes later thanks to a Jack Bernie marker, as he too notched his seventh of the campaign.
The Miners regained the lead with just 14 seconds to go in the first period with Herringer also joining the seven-tally club in 2017-18.
Moving on to the middle frame, Jaedin Ness tied it for the Lakers four minutes into the stanza only to see Terix Fischer-Kobes connect on the power play a couple shifts later to put the home side up 3-2 heading into the third.
Another man advantage opportunity in the final frame helped English River extend their cushion as Spencer Milne scored at 7:21.
They then put the game away in the late going on an empty netter from Herringer round out the night’s scoring.
Michael Lenko made 29 saves in the Miners net to record the win.
Ismael Ralsten finished with 22 stops in defeat for the Lakers.
The two teams will finish off a home-and-home Tuesday night at Ice for Kids Arena in Fort Frances at 7:30 p.m.
Photo credit: Patrick Boucha