NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013
Rivermen defeat Eskimos in OT; Thunderbirds top Trappers
SUDBURY – A couple of Sunday matinees in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League saw the Espanola Rivermen edge the Abitibi Eskimos 6-5 in overtime while the Soo Thunderbirds topped the North Bay Trappers 6-1.
ESPANOLA RIVERMEN 6 ABITIBI ESKIMOS 5 (OT) – Corbin Bean’s second goal of the game, 1:12 into extra time lifted Espanola past visiting Abitibi.
The Eskimos used the power play to grab the lead in this one accounting for the only marker of the opening stanza as Ryan Wildman connected at 18:08.
Brandon Janke then tacked on a pair of tallies in the middle session to put the Rivermen out in front only to see Shane Hiley level the proceedings with 8:50 remaining in the period.
The two sides then traded goals before the frame was complete with Espanola’s Robert Smythe and Abitibi’s Brady Clouthier exchanging efforts to tie it at 3-3 after 40 minutes.
After Brennen Dubchak put the Rivermen back on top in the third with a power play marker, Ryan Tront knotted the score once again.
Bean the put the home side back in front with 9:02 remaining in regulation, but Kevin Walker forced overtime just over two minutes later.
That set the stage for Bean’s winner in OT, which was his third of the season and tied him for the league lead.
Espanola won for a third straight time in the triumph as they improved to 6-2 overall.
Griffin Strain made 28 saves to pick-up the win while Simon Chamberland faced 31 shots in helping his side secure a point as the Eskimos went to 3-2-0-2 on the season.
SOO THUNDERBIRDS 6 NORTH BAY TRAPPERS 1 – After allowing the game’s first goal Sault Ste. Marie stormed back with six unanswered tallies to skate away with the victory at Essar Centre.
North Bay captain Jake Staples gave the Trappers the early lead only to see the Thunderbirds supply three of their own from Gavin Burbach, Eric Hillock and Anthony Miller to put the home side up 3-1 after 20 minutes.
Jaren Bellini added to the Sault Ste. Marie cushion with the only effort of the middle stanza while Burback tacked on two more in the third to complete a hat-trick for a second Sunday in succession.
Miller and Bellini also chipped in with two assists apiece while Burbach also had a helper to aid the T-Birds offensive cause.
Rookie Brian Kment made 18 saves to improve to 3-0 while helping his club move back into a first place tie in the NOJHL standings with Kirkland Lake at 12 points at 6-2. The Gold Miners do hold a game in hand.
Another first-year netminder in Evan Cormier was peppered with 44 pucks in a losing cause for North Bay as they dropped to 2-5-0-2 on the season.
League action continues Monday as the Trappers host Kirkland Lake in a 7:30 p.m. start at West Ferris Arena.
