MATTAWA – The Mattawa Blackhawks stormed back from a four-goal deficit to pull out a dramatic 5-4 victory in double overtime over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest staged at Mike Rodden Arena.
Kirkland Lake went up 2-0 after 20 minutes getting tallies 20 seconds apart from Joel Fortin and Zach Pease.
Luc Soares extended the Gold Miners lead 2:07 into the middle session while Fortin’s second of the game less than a minute later put the visitors up by four.
Mattawa started their comeback bid following a Tanner Bowditch effort 5:26 into the middle session.
An Andy Williams power play marker with 62 seconds left in the second made it a 4-2 game after 40 minutes.
Williams connected again during a man advantage 5:50 into the third to pull the Blackhawks to within one.
Mattawa then forced extra time as Chris Bauman notched the equalizer with 7:19 remaining in regulation.
After the first five-minute OT was scoreless, the two sides went to three skaters each to start the second extra session.
It was there that the Blackhawks struck quickly as Nick Grose buried the game-winner 18 seconds into the second OT to complete the home side’s comeback win.
Joe Sheppard was solid in net for Mattawa as he finished with 49 saves to help his squad pull out the triumph.
Devon Debastos faced 30 shots in defeat for the Gold Miners, who did pick up one point in the standings.
