KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – Austin Whelan’s winning goal 1:55 into double overtime lifted the Cochrane Crunch to a 3-2 victory over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Saturday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Joe Mavrinac Community Centre.
Kirkland Lake did get off to a quick start notching the night’s opening tally 1:50 in on a John Serafin effort.
Cochrane would respond midway through the first as Kyle Herbster reached the 20-goal plateau on the season to level the proceedings at 1-1.
The Gold Miners regained the lead before the period was complete though thanks to Marshal Nikitin’s 16th of the campaign at 16:43.
The lone marker of the second stanza was provided by Austin Stauffer of the Crunch as he picked up his league-leading 26th goal of the season at 6:42.
It remained scoreless from there throughout the rest of regulation and into the second OT where Whelan won it to give the visitors the extra point on the night.
Max Cavallini did assist on both Kirkland Lake goals.
Taylor Unruh made 17 saves in picking up the win for Cochrane.
Ryan Winter was stellar in defeat for the Gold Miners making 42 saves in the double OT setback helping his squad pick-up a point.
Photos courtesy of CapturingTheMoment.ca
