Pair of one goal games Friday in the NOJHL

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

Pair of one goal games Friday in the NOJHL

SUDBURY – A pair of Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contests results in a couple of one-goal decisions as the Elliot Lake Bobcats put an end to the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners winning streak with a 4-3 overtime triumph while the Espanola Rivermen slipped past the Sudbury Nickel Barons 3-2.

ELLIOT LAKE BOBCATS 4 KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS 3 (OT) – Jacob Erwin scored with 40 seconds remaining in the first overtime period as visiting Elliot Lake put an end to Kirkland Lake’s eight-game winning streak with the triumph at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.

Tallies 19 seconds apart by Torrin Grange and Brad Holman staked the Bobcats to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Jonathon Langford put the Gold Miners on the board early moments of the second stanza in what turned out to be the only effort of the middle session.

Langford’s second of the night midway through the third levelled the proceedings while Kyle Bishop put Kirkland Lake up one with 93 seconds remaining in regulation.

Not to be deterred Elliot Lake notched the equalizer at 19:01 courtesy of Brett Wagner’s team-leading 36th goal of the season to force OT.

That is where Erwin won it to give the Bobcats the extra point in the standings.

Jared Walker picked up a pair of assists for the winners while Samuel Wilbur did likewise for the Miners.

Alex Bitsakis made 33 saves to register the victory in net while Jeremy Pominville saw 20 attempts fired his way in defeat.

Despite the setback the Gold Miners have now recorded 17 of a possible 18 points in their past nine outings.

ESPANOLA RIVERMEN 3 SUDBURY NICKEL BARONS 2 – A Connor Gilmartin effort with 9:08 remaining proved to be the difference maker as Espanola edged Sudbury at the Regional Recreation Complex.

The Rivermen grabbed a 1-0 lead after one period of play thanks to Robert Smythe’s 14th goal of the season.

Each side would connect in the middle session with Dylan Callaghan connecting for the Nickel Barons at 9:52 and Daniel Robertson picking up his second of the campaign for the home side at 14:28.

Khadyn Butterfly tied it with a power play effort from the point at 8:15 of the third only to see Gilmartin answer back with the game-winner for the Rivermen.

Brad Edwards chipped in with a pair of assists for the winners.

Sudbury outshot Espanola 31-28 on the night with Marc Terriault earning the triumph for the Rivermen and Andrew Lefebvre suffering the loss for the Nickel Barons.