Gold Miners edge Express in OT

KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – A Jacob Hiltz marker midway through overtime proved to be the decider as the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners edged the Espanola Express 4-3 Saturday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.

Kirkland Lake came out quickly and scored just 54 seconds into the proceedings as Andronique Stepanian stuffed one in from the top of the crease past Express netminder Matthew Loney.

Countering seven minutes later, Kobe Braham supplied a third-straight marker for his club, after a two-goal night Friday, when he neatly picked the corner on Gold Miners’ starter Zachary Reddy with a swift wrist shot from the left face off dot.

Trading tallies later in the session, Ryan Evenhuis put the hosts back on top as he finished off a Espanola turnover via a cross-crease pass from teammate Chance DeBolt.

Picking up a power play right after that though, the guests drew level once more thanks to Braham, who potted yet another marker for his side while neatly deflecting a shot by Jack Thor.

Regaining the lead late in the middle frame, Lucas Renzoni blasted one in from the left of the net.

The Express had a great chance to equalize before the period came to a close, but Reddy dove across and made a tremendous save on Ty McHutchion.

Espanola did tie it in the third however thanks to Adam Shillinglaw with just over seven minutes left in regulation as he fired a shot through screen from the left point to help send it to OT.

In the extra session, Hiltz won it for Kirkland Lake as he completed a give-and-go with Evenhuis and tucked in the game-winner to give the Gold Miners the additional point in the contest.

Both teams are back at it Sunday afternoon as the Gold Miners host the Powassan Voodoos while the Express entertain the Elliot Lake Red Wings in a pair of 2 p.m. starts on HockeyTV.com.