Photos: Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – An Inde Abresch penalty shot goal in overtime was the difference as the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners prevailed 6-5 over the Iroquois Falls Storm in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League preseason contest Friday at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
The hometown Gold Miners opened the scoring on a delayed penalty when Colin Tingay fired a blast from the left point that Jordan Fitger corralled and slid a backhand by Storm starter Justin Sullivan.
Kirkland Lake’s power play then went to work to extend their lead as they worked the puck around nicely before Matthew Robidoux wired a rising short-side shot into the right corner.
Cutting into the deficit on a man advantage, and having their goalie out for an extra attacker on a delayed penalty, the Storm’s Landon Tretheway drove to the slot and sent a low attempt in front that was steered in by Jordan Mayo.
Up a skater once more, Iroquois Falls tied it after Michael Leech whistled one high into the top right side to knot the affair at 2-2.
A third-straight Storm strike put them in front as Andre Cho deposited a backhand from the top of the crease.
Tying it back up, the Gold Miners kept a play in the opponent’s zone, which allowed Josh Hall to power his way to the slot and fire a shot over the glove of Sullivan at 17:08.
Retaking the lead before the intermission, Iroquois Falls’ Remi Gendron buried a sizzler from the left of netminder Kael Moberg.
Going ahead by a pair, Storm defenceman Darren Baker waited for a crowd to form in front before he darted in from the point and scored through a maze.
Back and forth they went, with Fitger potting his second of the evening as he outraced a pair of defenders to the puck before depositing it.
Kirkland Lake then collected a tying tally with 8:02 to go when Tyler Corbett bounced on a rebound off a point shot by Zack Machdian and pumped it in.
Heading to OT, Abresch won it in thrilling fashion with under four minutes to play as he knocked a play ahead and ended up being chopped down on a breakaway.
On his opportunity he skated in slowly before making a nifty move and wiring the game-winner into the bottom-left corner to end it.
The two teams are right back at it Saturday as they finish off a weekend home-and-home at Jus Jordan Arena at 7:30 p.m.
