IROQUOIS FALLS – Cody Gratton’s second goal of the game, at 1:41 of overtime was the difference maker as the Cochrane Crunch slipped past the Abitibi Eskimos 4-3 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair at Jus Jordan Arena.
The two sides traded tallied in the opening session with Brady Clouthier connecting for the Eskimos 32 seconds in the contest while Henry Berger replied for the Crunch in the latter stages of the frame.
Berger’s second of the night put Cochrane in the lead for the first time at 12:08 of the stanza only to see Brennan Roy knot the match-up at 2-2 heading into the third.
Ryan Kerr put Abitibi back in front with 13:22 remaining in regulation, but Gratton answered back moments later with a shorthanded effort to force extra time.
In OT Gratton capped off a four-point night as he buried the game-winner to end it.
Gratton also had a pair of assists in the game as did Tristan Salesse for the home side.
Ben Auger made 39 saves to pick up the win for the Crunch while Chet Tooker faced 42 shots in defeat for the Eskimos.
NOJHL action resumes Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. as Mattawa hosts Kirkland Lake in a 2 p.m. matinee at Mike Rodden Arena.
