Game Photos: Emily Martin
COCHRANE, Ont. – A pair of late, nearly identical, third period goals by Timmins Rock defenceman Tanner Hamilton helped his side rally for a 3-2 triumph over the Cochrane Crunch Saturday evening in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at the Tim Horton Events Centre.
First period action saw each side score once each as they hit the opening intermission tied at 1-1.
Ryan Hunter put the Crunch in front as he connected right off a faceoff win.
Getting that back late in the session, the Rock’s Riley Dubois wristed in a rising attempt from the high slot at 17:24 for his opening NOJHL tally.
Regaining the lead in the latter portion of the second stanza, Hunter tacked on another as he took a pass and darted down the right side on Timmins goalkeeper Konrad Simard and whipped one blocker side to put the hosts up by one after 40 minutes.
Timmins tied it with 7:39 left in regulation as Hamilton lifted a shot from the right point that sailed through a crowd and beat a screened Michael Nickolau in the Cochrane net.
Hamilton then got the winner in similar fashion in the late going as he once again fired one through a maze from inside the blueline that found its way in for the decider.
Simard finished with 16 saves in his NOJHL debut to pick up the win, while Nickolau was peppered with 60 shots against in suffering the narrow defeat.
