NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015
Helper 2 OT hero as Wildcats clip Canadians
CHELMSFORD, Ont. – Cole Hepler scored 1:15 into the second overtime as the Elliot Lake Wildcats earned a 3-2 victory over the Rayside-Balfour Canadians Saturday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Chelmsford Arena.
The visitors from Elliot Lake got on the board first in this one as Chad Lopez notched the lone tally of the opening period five and a half minutes in.
Rayside-Balfour drew level 5:02 into the second stanza when Otis Goldman picked up his 13th of the season and ran a point streak to nine straight outings in the process.
Danny Lepage then gave the Canadians the lead near the 13-minute mark of the frame as he found the back of the net for the 14th time on the campaign.
The Wildcats drew level late in the session as Connor Rider converted on a man advantage opportunity with 63 seconds left.
Neither team would score in the third or the initial five-minute OT sending the two sides to three skaters each and a second extra session to try and decide it.
It was there that Hepler won it for Elliot Lake with his 18th of the campaign.
He also extended a consecutive game point streak to eight with the game-winner.
Al Rogers made 30 saves to record the win for the Wildcats.
MacKenzie Savard saw 40 shots fired his way in defeat in helping his club earn a point in the OT setback.
