GALLERY: Resilient Eskis force 3rd and deciding game with Gold Miners

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Sunday, March 12, 2017

Resilient Eskis force 3rd and deciding game with Gold Miners

IROQUOIS FALLS, Ont. – A Wade Auger goal 9:13 into the second overtime lifted the resilient Iroquois Falls Eskis to a dramatic 4-3 double overtime victory over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Sunday afternoon in an action-packed Game 2 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League East Division quarter-final match-up at Jus Jordan Arena.

With the result the best-of-three series is now tied 1-1 with the third and deciding contest set for Tuesday in Kirkland Lake at 7:30 p.m. at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.

In Sunday’s game, Shadow Reuben put the Eskis on the board at 6:52 of the first period only to see Brandon Carr-Ansah supply the equalizer for the Gold Miners seven minutes later.

Iroquois Falls went back on top 3:42 into the middle stanza on a Samuel Vigneux marker.

Once again the visitors drew level with Kirkland Lake captain Ashton Amaya notching the tying goal at 15:54.

Amaya then struck late in the session as he connected with just 18 seconds left in the frame to put his team up 3-2.

Moving on to the third, it was Reuben’s turn to score once again as he registered his second of the postseason with 8:32 remaining in regulation to send it to OT.

Both teams had chances in a scoreless first extra session, but could not convert thanks to the efforts of goaltenders Trevor Hawkes of the Eskis and the Gold Miners’ Ridge Gerads.

Then nearing the midway mark of the second OT, it was Iroquois Falls that prevailed when Rueben and Jack Speer helped get the puck shovelled out in front where a waiting Auger backhanded in the game-winner from the top of the crease to end it and send the series back to Kirkland Lake for its conclusion.

Reuben picked up points on all four Eskis’ tallies in the contest while Speer along with the Gold Miners’ Alex Storjohann both dished out three assists each.

Hawkes came up big for Iroquois Falls to help keep their season alive as he finished with 45 saves in earning the triumph.

As for Gerads, he too was solid, despite the defeat, as he faced 41 shots overall.

The league’s other quarter-final match-up between the Soo Eagles and Elliot Lake Wildcats is also going the distance and will be played Tuesday as well.

That match-up features a new start time of 7 p.m. at Pullar Stadium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

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

East Division
No. 4 Kirkland Lake Gold Miners vs. No. 5 Iroquois Falls Eskis
Best-of-three series tied 1-1
Game 1: Kirkland Lake 4 Iroquois Falls 0
Game 2: Iroquois Falls 4 Kirkland Lake 3 (2 OT)
Game 3: Tuesday, March 14 @ Kirkland Lake 7:30 p.m. (Joe Mavrinac Community Complex)