VIDEO & GALLERY: Parnell clutch late as Rock slip past Crunch in OT

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Parnell clutch late as Rock slip past Crunch in OT

TIMMINS, Ont. – Stewart Parnell’s second goal of game, coming 52 seconds into overtime, was the game-winner as the Timmins Rock rallied to slip past the Cochrane Crunch 4-3 Wednesday evening in a highly-entertaining, back-and-forth Game 3 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League East Division semifinal at McIntyre Arena.

With the victory, Timmins now leads the best-of-seven set 2-1 heading into Game 4 Saturday at 7:30 p.m. back at The Mac.

Action in the opening 20 minutes saw each side score once with Joseph Thielen connecting for Cochrane 70 seconds into the contest before the Rock’s Tyler Romain tied it 15 minutes later.

A second period power play allowed the Crunch to regain the lead with Nate Viberg striking seven and a half minutes into the frame by converting on the man advantage opportunity.

Timmins tied it again at 12:04 after a nice stretch pass found Bain Cunningham skating into the Cochrane zone where a couple of quick passes found Jacob Shankar in front, who made a quick deke to his right and deposited the tying tally past Crunch netminder Leighton Williams.

Konnar Dechaine put the visitors back in front in the third, but the Rock countered again late in regulation, with goaltender Al Rogers on the bench in favour of an extra attacker, as Parnell snapped the equalizer into the top right hand corner past Williams with 1:24 to go.

Timmins then completed the comeback early in the extra session as Cunningham swiped the puck off a Crunch defender and calmly fed Parnell, who buried the decider from in close to end it.

Cunningham had a big night for the Rock assisting on all four tallies his club notched.

Dechaine chipped in with a couple of helpers for Cochrane.

Shots on goal in the contest favoured Timmins by a 37-26 count with Rogers picking up the win and Williams the defeat.

All NOJHL playoff games are streamed live online at HockeyTV.com.

East Division semifinal (Series D)
No. 2 Cochrane Crunch vs. No. 3 Timmins Rock
Timmins leads best-of-seven series 2-1
Game 1: Cochrane 5 Timmins 3
Game 2: Timmins 4 Cochrane 2
Game 3: Timmins 4 Cochrane 3 (OT)
Game 4: Saturday, March 25 @ Timmins 7:30 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
Game 5: Sunday, March 26 @ Cochrane 6 p.m. (Tim Horton Event Centre)
Game 6*: Tuesday, March 28 @ Timmins 7:30 p.m. (McIntyre Arena)
Game 7*: Wednesday, March 29 @ Cochrane 7:30 p.m. (Tim Horton Event Centre)
*- if necessary