Cochrane comes back to clip Kirkland Lake

KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – The Cochrane Crunch came back from an early two-goal deficit and rallied to defeat the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 4-3 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Sunday at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.

For a second straight outing, Kirkland Lake skated out to a 2-0 lead, getting tallies on this day from Connor Van Wellie and Max Newnam as the hosts went up by a pair midway through the opening frame.

Cochrane got one back before the first was complete thanks to a Matthew Minichiello man advantage marker with a couple of minutes to go as he picked up his team-leading 14th goal of the season.

In the middle session, Van Weelie notched his second of the game, and 13th overall, 48 seconds in to restore the Gold Miners cushion.

Battling back, the Crunch answered on the next shift to move close off the stick of captain Hunter Buzzi.

The visitors then drew level at 14:30 when Dakota Seaman collected his first NOJHL tally to knot the affair at 3-3.

Then with a late power play, Cochrane’s Owen Perala picked up the eventual game-winner with 35 seconds left in the stanza.

Neither side would convert offensively in a scoreless third period as the guests stood firm to secure the come from behind triumph.

Shots on net ended up 52-49 for the Crunch with Zach Wickson getting the win while Kohl Reddy suffered the narrow defeat.