IROQUOIS FALLS – The Abitibi Eskimos struck three times on the power play then had to hold of a late comeback bid by the Elliot Lake Wildcats in skating to a 4-3 decision in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Saturday at Jus Jordan Arena.
Each side found the back of the net once in the opening period with Elliot Lake defenceman David Chiarelli slamming home his eighth of the season from the point at 2:31 while Brennan Roy notched the equalizer for Abitibi five minutes later with his club’s first man advantage effort of the night.
The Eskimos came out quickly in the middle session with Joshua Dejulio connecting at the 36-second mark of the stanza.
Abitibi’s power play then helped them tack on two more before the period was complete as Tristan Salesse and Brenden Locke added extra man markers to put them up by three heading into the final frame.
The score stayed that way until 2:26 to go in regulation when Jason Wilson’s 12th goal pulled the visitors to within two.
Elliot Lake added one more with eight seconds to go from Liam Blais, but that’s as close as they would get as their late rally fell short.
Roy and teammate Brady Clouthier both has two assists each for the Eskimos.
In the victory Locke and Clouthier also extended consecutive game point streaks to six and five games respectively.
Logan Ferrington made 43 saves to record the win in net for Abitibi while A.J. Smith faced 28 shots in the loss for the Wildcats.
