VAL-D’OR, Quebec (Interstat) — The Val-d’Or Foreurs, propelled by a four-goal third-period outburst, stormed back from a two-goal deficit to defeat the visiting Rouyn-Noranda Huskies 5-3 in a Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League matchup on Sunday.

A crowd of 1,880 at the Centre Agnico Eagle watched the Huskies dominate the early stages of the game, only to see the Foreurs mount a stunning comeback to secure their first victory of the young season.

The Huskies struck immediately, with local product Eliot Ogonowski silencing the home crowd just 26 seconds into the contest. Ogonowski, a left wing from Val-d’Or, added his second goal of the game early in the third period to complete a two-goal performance. Thomas Verdon also scored for Rouyn-Noranda in the first period, capitalizing on a setup from Lars Steiner to give the Huskies a commanding 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Steiner, a right wing from Davos, Switzerland, was a central figure for the Huskies, assisting on all three of his team’s goals. However, his offensive contributions were marred by six penalty minutes.

The game’s narrative flipped completely in the final frame. Trailing 3-0, the Foreurs’ comeback began at the 3:44 mark when Samuel Fiala of Prostejov, Czechia, found the net. The momentum truly shifted midway through the period during a sequence of heavy pressure.

The turning point came with just over seven minutes remaining. After Rouyn-Noranda’s Jacob Hamel was sent off for roughing, the Huskies’ discipline crumbled. Eliot Ogonowski took a high-sticking penalty at 12:45, and just four seconds into the ensuing 5-on-3 power play, Benjamin Brunelle was penalized for delaying the game, giving Val-d’Or a lengthy two-man advantage.

The Foreurs made them pay. Center Nathan Brisson scored his second goal of the game during the 5-on-3 to tie the score at 3-3. Brisson, from St-Eustache, Canada, was the game’s standout performer, finishing with two goals and two assists.

With the game tied and all the momentum on their side, the Foreurs completed the rally. Alix Durocher scored his second goal of the period with 1:58 remaining in regulation to put Val-d’Or ahead for the first time. Durocher, a left wing from Drummondville, Canada, also added an assist in a pivotal three-point night. An empty-net goal from Brisson in the final minute sealed the 5-3 victory.

The loss drops Rouyn-Noranda’s season record to 2-3, while Val-d’Or improves to 1-3. The result was an upset according to Interstat’s ELO system, which had given the Huskies a 62.30 percent probability to win.

The game was a penalty-filled affair, with the Huskies taking nine infractions for 18 minutes. The Foreurs were not much cleaner, serving eight penalties for 16 minutes. The Huskies’ inability to stay out of the box in the third period proved costly, as Val-d’Or’s power play capitalized on the critical opportunities.

Rouyn-Noranda will look to rebound when they host these same Foreurs on Friday, October 3. Val-d’Or’s next contest is the same road game in Rouyn-Noranda, before returning home to face the Victoriaville Tigres on Sunday, October 5.