NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release Date: Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012
Gold Miners and Thunderbirds battle to 2-2 draw
SAULT STE. MARIE – An Adam Ritchie goal with just 17 seconds remaining in regulation lifted the Soo Thunderbirds into a 2-2 double overtime tie with the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Sunday in an entertaining Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at Essar Centre.
Each team was quick to strike offensively in this one with Connor McNally opening the scoring for the Gold Miners 1:38 into the contest only to see Derek Battagin counter for the Thunderbirds just 65 seconds later.
Visiting Kirkland Lake then regained the lead 14:33 into the middle session as Jean-Michel Naud beat Soo starter Joel Horodziejczyk to put his side up 2-1 after 40 minutes.
The score stayed that way until the waning moments of the third period.
With Horodziejczyk on the bench in favour on an extra attacker, Ritchie took a quick feed from behind the net and stuffed in the equalizer on the short side past Gold Miners’ netminder Chris Komma.
Neither team was able to notch the game-winner in either of the two five-on-five OT sessions with both goaltenders making multiple big saves.
Komma was outstanding making 41 stops in the contest to help his side’s record go to 13-10-2-1 while Horodziejczyk was equally as solid finishing up with 29 saves for the Soo who go to 17-2-2-2.
Only two penalties were called in the entire contest with both of them going to the Gold Miners
NOJHL action resumes Wednesday as the Thunderbirds travel to Sudbury to take on the Nickel Barons in a 7:30 p.m. start at McClelland Arena.
