GALLERY: Gold Miners – Crunch battle to 2 OT draw

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016

Gold Miners – Crunch battle to 2 OT draw

KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. –  The Kirkland Lake Gold Miners scored three first period goals while the Cochrane Crunch had a trio of their own in the second stanza before the clubs tightened up defensively and eventually skated to a 3-3 double overtime tie Saturday evening in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.

After going scoreless in the opening 10 minutes of the of the contest, it was all Gold Miners in the back half of the session as they struck three times off the sticks of William Mizuik, Austin Ramirez, via the power play, and Matthew Brassard while shorthanded to take control early.

Cochrane opted to replace starting netminder Leighton Williams with Eric Vanblarcom to begin the second and the move appeared to pay off as the Crunch rallied with a trio of tallies of their own with Konnar Dechaine and Bailey Shaver connecting at even strength while Brandon McReynolds had one during a man advantage with 15 seconds left in the frame.

Neither side would manage to score the rest of the way as the two sides settled for one point apiece in the draw.

Jeff Veitch made 31 stops for Kirkland Lake and Vanblarcom saved all 25 attempts he faced in relief for Cochrane. Williams allowed three on 13 attempts for the Crunch in 20 minutes of work.

photos courtesy of www.capturingthemoment.ca