Cochrane’s Unruh shuts out Blind River in Showcase opener

SUDBURY, Ont. – Cochrane Crunch goaltender Taylor Unruh turned aside all 30 shots he faced to backstop his side to a 3-0 victory over the Blind River Beavers Tuesday in the opening game of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Showcase at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex in Sudbury.

Action in a free-wheeling opening stanza was scoreless thanks to the efforts of goaltenders Unruh of Cochrane and Garret Boyonoski of Blind River who combined to make 34 stops in the session.

Cochrane did get on the board 8:16 into the middle frame as Marcus Blackned jammed in a loose puck from the top of the crease during a goal mouth scramble.

The Crunch added to their lead on an Austin Stauffer individual effort as he picked up a goal in a third straight game for his side.

It stayed 2-0 Cochrane until the latter stages of the contest when Blind River had a power play and opted to pull netminder Garret Boyonoski to have two extra skaters, but Cochrane scored into an empty net at 16:25 to secure the decision.

Earning CCM Hockey player of the game laurels were Unruh of Cochrane and Garret Boyonoski for Blind River, who made 45 stops in defeat.