NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016
Photo credit: Miranda Zilkowsky
Cochrane concludes Day 1 of NOJHL Showcase with win over Timmins
SUDBURY, Ont. – A three-goal third period outburst allowed the Cochrane Crunch to break open a tie game as they went on to defeat the Timmins Rock 4-2 in Game 6 of the NOJHL Showcase at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.
Special teams allowed the Rock to grab the lead as Cole Gilligan collected the rebound off a Brendan Campbell shot and snapped one past Cochrane starter Jacob Burhans for a power play marker at 13:36 of the first.
Up a man, the Crunch drew level three minutes later when Konnar Dechaine was left alone in the slot and slid the equalizer under the pads of Timmins netminder Caleb Barris to finish the frame at 1-1.
Action in the second session saw the goaltenders take control in thwarting opposing shooters in keeping both sides off the score sheet..
The best chance of the middle session came midway through as Wayne Mathieu was hauled down on a breakaway, but was denied by the right pad of Cochrane goalkeeper Jacob Burhans.
Cochrane’s two-leading point producers combined to put the Crunch in front a minute and a half into the third as the NOJHL’s leading scorer Braeden Cross fed Brandon McReynolds, who is No. 3 in the league point parade, 87 seconds into session to put their side in front.
The power play helped Cochrane add another at 8:34 when Konnar Dechaine collected his 10th of the season.
Leejay Meguinis then slammed home his second of the campaign from in close to put the Crunch up 4-1 with 5:27 to play.
Timmins had a lengthy man advantage in the late going, but could only score once on the power play as Grant McClellan connected with 27 seconds left to round out the night’s scoring.
Shots on goal in the contest favoured Cochrane by a 31-29 count with Burhans picking up the victory while Barris suffered his first NOJHL loss.
Day 2 play at the Showcase begins Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. as the Powassan Voodoos take on the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners.