COCHRANE – A Brennan Roy goal 19 seconds into overtime was the decider as the Abitibi Eskimos edged the Cochrane Crunch 7-6 Friday in a high-scoring Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair at the Tim Horton Event Centre.
Each team would tally twice in the opening period with Brady Clouthier and Cosimo Amore notching tallies for Abitibi around a pair from Cochrane’s Connor Lovie and Daniel Stagg.
The Crunch then took a 4-3 lead after 40 minutes as Cody Gratton and Josh Racek sandwiched efforts around one from the Eskimos’ Brenden Locke.
Abitibi then stormed out in the third striking three times in a span of three and a half minutes thanks to a power play goal from Ryan Attwood and two even strength markers from Clouthier, who finished off a hat trick.
Cochrane responded however to force OT as Max Glashauser made it 6-5 before Dustin Cordeiro buried the equalizer with 2:40 remaining in regulation.
In the end however Abitibi would prevail thanks to Roy early in the extra session.
Jake Holland and Attwood had two assists apiece for the Eskimos while Gratton had three helpers for his side and Racek picked up a couple of his own.
Final shots on goal in the contest were 54-38 in favour of the Crunch with Chet Tooker picking up the win and Troy Paquette the loss.
