Polar Bear Classic host Crunch top Express

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Friday, Sept. 1, 2017

Polar Bear Classic host Crunch top Express

COCHRANE, Ont. – The Polar Bear Classic host Cochrane Crunch broke open a one-goal game by notching four unanswered third period tallies to skate away with a 7-2 in Day 1 action at the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League preseason tournament at the Tim Horton Event Centre.

The lone marker of the first frame was provided by Cochrane’s Mitchell Booth before the contest was four minutes old.

Espanola battled back in the middle session to first tie it and then take the lead thanks to a power play effort from Jackson Heacock at 5:20 followed by Josh Zlatinszky connecting at even strength four minutes later.

The Crunch came back with a couple of quick goals of their own later in the session Alex Brisson and Ray Matawashish found the back of the net to put the home side up by one entering the third.

In the final frame Cochrane put it away as Kyle Podwika, via the man advantage, a pair by Darian Harris and another by Matawashish wrapped things up for the winners.

Kyle Henderson made 26 saves to record the win for the Crunch.

Jacob Hutchings started for the Express and played half the game stopping 30 of 31 while Adam Scott suffered the setback in relief making 29 saves on 35 attempts.

Next up for the two clubs has Cochrane meeting the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners at Jus Jordan Arena in Iroquois Falls while Espanola faces off with the Kingston Voyageurs (OJHL) at Tim Horton Event Centre in a pair of 12 p.m. starts.

Meanwhile in Day 1 play in the AAA midget division of the Polar Bear Classic Friday, the Rouyn Citadelle topped the Timmins Majors 4-1 while the Kapuskasing Flyers edged the Soo Thunderbirds 5-4 in double overtime.

Austin Holmes scored for Timmins in the first while Xavier Corbin, Taylor-Jay Swallow, Kevin St-Amand and Antoine Arcand all supplied third period tallies for Rouyn.

The other match-up saw Sebastien Doucet notched the game-winner 38 seconds into OT for the Flyers.

Martin Poisson scored twice for Kapuskasing as did Jared Dupuis in regulation.

Hunter Rheaume, Nathan Headrick, Cooper Sayl and Jacob Sewell picked up the Soo markers.

The Flyers outshot the Thunderbirds 49-28 with Jaden Chouinard picking up the win and Noah Zeppa made 44 stops in the extra time defeat.

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