NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
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An Ivan Kedrov sharp angle strike with just 1:36 remaining in regulation proved to be the difference maker as the Elliot Lake Vikings held off the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 4-3 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Sunday afternoon at Massey & District Arena.
Elliot Lake also opened the scoring six and a half minutes into the proceedings when Callum Millar came down the right side and sent a crisp backhand to the top of the crease that was steered in by teammate Dylan Hendrick.
Adding another early in the middle frame, Hendrick banged in a pass across from Mason Windsor into an open corner on Kirkland Lake netminder Matis Bureau-Morel.
With the assist, Windsor raised a consecutive game point streak to six in succession.
Cutting into the deficit at 14:28, Tyler Corbett put the Gold Miners on the board as he neatly redirected in a Colin Tinguay chance from the top of the circle that eluded Vikings’ goaltender Robby DiMaria, who was making his NOJHL debut.
They then tied it before the second intermission as Graham Rooney collected a loose puck and settled it down before whipping it upstairs from the right side.
In the third, the Vikings regained the lead early in the session when Anthony Bertrand generated a play along the side wall and fired a low attempt towards the target that was tipped in by Windsor.
The helper gives Bertrand a point in each of his past six outings.
Drawing even once more, Kirkland Lake’s Nolan Garrard was credited with his first NOJHL goal with 11 and a half minutes remaining in regulation.
However, with overtime looming, Kedrov won it for Elliot Lake from an extremely sharp angle and he moved along the goal line and wired the game-winner over Bureau-Morel’s shoulder.
The Gold Miners did get their goalie out in the last minute in an effort to force OT, but the Vikings held firm to collect the narrow victory.
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