NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release Date: Saturday, March 2, 2013
NOJHL Saturday results in pair of OT decisions
SUDBURY – Both games on Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League schedule Saturday required overtime to determine a winner with the Abitibi Eskimos putting an end to a lengthy winless drought by slipping past the North Bay Trappers in extra time while the Elliot Lake Bobcats need double OT to edge the Blind River Beavers.
ABITIBI ESKIMOS 4 NORTH BAY TRAPPERS 3 (OT) – A Ryan Kerr tally 53 seconds into OT was the difference as Abitibi put the brakes on an 11-game winless skid, rallying to defeat North Bay at Jus Jordan Arena.
Special teams allowed the Trappers to go up 2-0 after one period with North Bay defencemen Cole Klippenstein and Beau Orser scoring power play markers early and late in the session.
Ben Miller put the home side on the board three minutes into the middle frame to make it a one-goal contest after 40 minutes.
The Eskimos’ Nick Fountain tied it midway through the third stanza, only to see Orser’s second of the night put the Trappers back on top just a half minute later.
Not to be deterred Aaron Kerr forced extra time with 4:05 remaining as he notched his 20th tally of the season.
That set the stage for Ryan Kerr to win it early in the first OT session helping Abitibi get back in the win column raising their record to 13-28-0-3 on the season.
With the point North Bay dipped to 31-7-3-4 overall.
Shots on goal favoured the Trappers 46-35 with Jackson Winkler picking up the win and Dustin Hummel suffering the loss.
ELLIOT LAKE BOBCATS 5 BLIND RIVER BEAVERS 4 (2OT) – The Bobcats rallied to win their third game in a row thanks to Brian Hennessy’s second goal and fourth point of the night, which came 3:11 into the second overtime.
Cray Roberge connected for the only goal of the opening stanza as he scored shorthanded at 13:02 to give the Beavers to lead after one period of play.
A couple early markers 38 seconds apart in the second made it 3-0 Blind River on Roberge’s second of the game and Travis Jones’ eighth effort of the season.
Elliot Lake started their comeback with 11:20 to go in the middle session as Jared McElroy-Walker connected followed by Steve Gaul adding another three and a half minutes later.
After a power play effort by Jones put Blind River back up a pair, Henry Berger buried a power play marker for the Bobcats bringing them back to within one heading to the third.
The score stayed that way until late in regulation when Hennessy slammed home the equalizer with just eight seconds remaining.
After a scoreless first five-minute OT session Hennessy completed the comeback to keep Elliot Lake’s modest win streak intact.
Cory Simic made 47saves to register the victory for the Bobcats who improved to 15-29-0-2 on the campaign moving them into a tie with the Beavers for fifth place in the league standings.
Blind River dropped to 12-25-2-6 on the season with Brock Crossthwaite facing 41 shots in the contest helping his club salvage a point.
NOJHL action continues Sunday as the Trappers and Eskimos finish off a weekend home-and-home set with the scene shifting to North Bay’s Memorial Gardens. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
