Cochrane comes back to slip past Kirkland Lake

KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – Gordon Whelan’s first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League goal, coming six and a half minutes into the third period, helped the Cochrane Crunch complete a 4-3 come from behind victory over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Saturday at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.

Both sides notched early tallies in this one with Mitchell Booth starting things off for Cochrane at 1:12 while Joe Whittet countered for Kirkland Lake just 71 seconds later.

The Gold Miners then took the lead 2:26 into the middle session as Whittet scored once more at 2:26 of the frame for his second of the night and ninth overall.

Tyler Fyfe’s team-leading 28th put the hosts up by two at 19:28 of the stanza, but the visitors came right back before the period expired to move to within a goal thanks to Clay Ellerbrock’s ninth 15 seconds later.

Continuing to battle back, the Crunch drew level on a Thomas Hernandez man advantage effort at 2:46 of the third, which was followed by Whelan’s eventual game-winner.

T.J. Delaney provided two assists to aid the Cochrane cause.

Shayne Battler started for the Crunch and allowed three against on 15 shots in two periods of work while Taylor Unruh made four stops in 20 minutes of relief to record the win.

Cade McEwen faced 38 attempts in defeat for the Gold Miners.