MATTAWA – An Andy Williams goal 2:37 into the second overtime allowed the Mattawa Blackhawks to pull out a 4-3 victory over the Abitibi Eskimos in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Sunday afternoon at Mike Rodden Arena.
Mattawa grabbed a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes to get the early jump getting tallies from Jimmy Philbin, eight minutes in the contest, and another from Tanner Bowditch, via the power play, at 16:01.
Abitibi used the man advantage to get on the board near the six-minute mark of the second courtesy of a Brenden Locke effort.
The Blackhawks then struck shorthanded at 15:59 on the frame as Philbin notched his second of the game.
The Eskimos drew to within one eight minutes into the third thanks to Joe Olson and then forced OT midway through the stanza on Locke’s second power play effort of the contest and his 35th goal of the season.
Neither side could net the game-winner in the initial five-minute OT with the sides playing four skaters aside resulting in a second extra session that saw the teams going three skaters apiece.
It was there that Williams won it for Mattawa to give them the extra point in the contest.
Tyler Brodersen had a pair of assists for the Blackhawks as did Joshue Dejulio for Abitibi.
Shots on goal in the contest 43-42 in favour of the Hawks with Josh Horner picking up the win while Logan Ferrington helped the Eskimos earn a point in the setback.
NOJHL action resumes Monday afternoon as the Soo Thunderbirds host the Sudbury Nickel Barons in a 2 p.m. Family Day matinee at John Rhodes Community Centre.
