IROQUOIS FALLS – An August Jarecki goal 1:54 into the second overtime lifted the visiting Sudbury Nickel Barons to a 5-4 come from behind victory over the Abitibi Eskimos Saturday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Jus Jordan Arena.
After Abitibi opened the scoring thanks to Jamey Lauzon with 11:33 to go in the first period, Sudbury evened things up two and half minutes later courtesy of Danny Lepage.
The hometown Eskimos took a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes on a Daniel Nicholas marker early in the second stanza.
Ryan Attwood extended the Abitibi lead with a power play effort 1:38 into the third only to see Chris Rossi bring the Nickel Barons closer just 15 seconds later.
Brady Clouthier made it 4-2 Eskimos with just under 11 minutes to go in regulation, but Sudbury countered with goals by Brad Sutton and Kyle Fransen in the late going to force extra time.
A first five-minute OT solved little and then with the two sides skating three players apiece Jarecki capped the comeback for the Nickel Barons to give them the extra point.
Kevin Walker had a pair of assists for Abitibi in defeat.
Jessie Morin made 28 saves to pick-up the win for Sudbury while Chet Tooker faced 37 shots helping the Eskimos grab a point.
Next up on the NOJHL schedule sees the Soo Thunderbirds and Blind River Beavers making their season debut in a 7:30 p.m. start at the John Rhodes Community Centre in Sault Ste. Marie.
