Kirkland Lake Gold Miners, from left, Jacob Shuker, Inde Abresch, Noah Woodard and Evan Norris celebrate what appeared to be their team’s first goal during the first period of Saturday night’s NOJHL exhibition contest against the Iroquois Falls Storm at the Jus Jordan Arena. It was ruled, however, the Storm had actually scored at the other end of the ice seconds earlier, putting them in front 2-0 instead tying things up at 1-1. The Gold Miners overcame that 2-0 deficit and went on to defeat the Storm 5-3 in the first half of a home-and-home series. The two teams will be back in action at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex on Sunday, at 4 p.m. THOMAS PERRY/NORTHERN NEWS
It was the first NOJHL exhibition action for both teams and the start of a home-and-home series that will see the two teams face off at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex on Sunday, at 4 p.m.
Things didn’t start out too well for the Gold Miners Saturday night, as they fell behind 1-0 midway through the first period, with Ben Sherwin netting the former Cochrane Crunch franchise’s first goal in Iroquois Falls.
The Gold Miners thought they had tied the game four-and-a-half minutes later, but it was ruled after a lengthy consultation between the four officials that the Storm had actually scored seconds earlier at the other end of the ice.
Alex Chewanish was credited with that tally, increasing the Iroquois Falls lead to 2-0.
The Gold Miners finally got on the scoreboard with 1:01 remaining in the opening period, as Benjamin Armatage netted a power-play marker.
Unfortunately for the visitors, they gave up a shorthanded goal to Justin McKnight with 4.0 seconds remaining on the clock.
That would be the last time the Storm would beat Gold Miners goalie Braydon Garnhart, as he shut the door on them the rest of the way.
Woodard’s first of two goals on the night, a power-play marker, with 46.3 seconds remaining in the middle stanza pulled the Gold Miners to within a goal heading into the third period.
Tyler Sweat’s goal five-and-a-half minutes into the frame deadlocked the contest at 3-3.
Jonah McIndoo then netted what would prove to be the game-winning goal at the 10-minute mark.
And Woodard added icing on the cake when he delivered his second goal of the night into an empty Storm net, with goalie Alexis Mongrain on the bench in favour of an extra attacker.
Garnhart stopped 29 of the 32 shots he faced to earn the win, while Mongrain was tagged with the loss after blocking 37 of the 41 shots directed his way.
Sunday afternoon’s rematch at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.
Gallery Photos: Time’s Standing Still Photography