KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – Brandon Wolfe’s goal 2:06 into the second overtime was the difference as the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners rallied to defeat the Cochrane Crunch 4-3 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Thursday at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
The visiting Crunch got off to a good start notching the game’s opening tally 55 seconds into the contest as Dustin Cordeiro collected his 32nd marker of the season.
After a scoreless second stanza, Cochrane went up by two just past the seven-minute mark of the third on a John Stevenson effort.
Kirkland Lake came right back however getting that one back a mere 13 seconds later thanks to Logan Fredericks, who supplied his 22nd of the campaign.
The Gold Miners tied it at 11:46 with a Blake Anderson goal then went in front with 4:07 left in regulation as Brayden Stortz beat Crunch starter Brett Young.
Cochrane did come back and force extra time however as Jeremy McNeil notched the equalizer at 18:17.
Neither club could connect in the first OT as the team’s skated four players aside.
Moving on to double overtime and three skaters apiece, Kirkland Lake won it thanks to Wolfe as he helped the home side earn the extra point with his game-winner.
Brett Ouderkirk had two assists for the Gold Miners including one on the decider.
Victor-Olivier Courchesne made 26 saves to record the win while Young faced 37 shots in defeat for the Crunch, who did pick-up a point in the setback.
