ESPANOLA, Ont. – A Warren Farver marker a minute into overtime was the difference maker as the Espanola Paper Kings withstood a valiant comeback bid by the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners and prevailed 5-4 in a penalty-filled Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Sunday matinee at the Regional Recreation Complex.
While the Paper Kings carried the edge in opportunities in the opening 20 minutes, neither side would find the back of the net in a scoreless first period.
In the second stanza, Espanola wasted little time in taking the lead when a harmless-looking long-range dump in by Carter Makasoff from well out took a wild hop off the ice and skipped over the shoulder of netminder Glen McInnes.
The hosts then went up by a pair after that, moments into a man advantage, as Wyatt Farries lifted in his first NOJHL tally with a wrist shot through bodies from the left point.
The Paper Kings then chased McInnes in favour of back-up Brian Rathwell at 3:24 when Ashton Pitawanakwat darted down the left wing and converted with a rising attempt that found its way in.
The Gold Miners got one back half-way through the contest when Ryland Harvey picked up his first in league play by slamming one past goalkeeper Logan Vale who was clogged up with bodies amassed in the crease.
Scoring for an eighth consecutive contest to begin the campaign, Cameron Menard found the back of the net once more as he steered in an Owen Smith feed to make it 4-1.
Working their way back into it in the third period, Kirkland Lake’s Owen O’Grady notched a pair to bring the guests within one with over seven minutes to play.
O’Grady’s first effort saw him sent in on a break by Daniel Rusu while the clubs skated three aside where he buried his chance prior to converting on a power play at 12:55 by chipping in a chance in close.
Up two skaters deep in regulation, a frenzied scramble in front eventually saw Jake Williams get the final touch to knot the affair while battling in front to help send it to OT.
Heading to extra time, Espanola secured the extra point in the contest when Farver was spotted alone between the circles from the corner, moments after missing an earlier chance, and buried the game-winner much to the delight of the hometown faithful.
