GALLERY: Timmins takes high-scoring match-up in Cochrane

COCHRANE, Ont. – The Timmins Rock saw a dozen players collect at least one point as they went on to top the Cochrane Crunch 9-4 in a high-scoring Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League affair Saturday night at Tim Horton Events Centre.

A five-goal first period saw the two teams click early offensively that saw the Rock carry a 3-2 edge into the intermission.

Cochrane collected the night’s initial tally as Travis Szafron fired a shot from the right circle near the end boards that went high through a maze in front to give the hosts the lead midway through the frame.

Timmins countered a minute and a half later as Josh Dickson came down the left wing where he wired one into the corner beating Crunch netminder Liam McCarthy.

The visitors came right back moments later to take the lead as Riley Robitaille outwaited a sprawled McCarthy and buried his second of the season as he converted from the top of the crease.

Back and forth they went with Cochrane netting the equalizer at 11:39 with Matthew Hill finishing off his own rebound with a nice backhand from in close.

Down a skater a few shifts later, the Rock struck shorthanded with Dickson putting a perfect feed on the tape of Zach Smith, who snapped a shot blocker side from the high slot for his first career man-down marker.

Moving to the middle stanza, the Crunch power play clicked twice on a lengthy man advantage to gain the edge.

Ryan Hunter went upstairs from the right faceoff dot to level the proceedings once again to score the first one, then flew down the wing and powered his way to the net where he zipped an attempt the flew past Timmins goaltender Gavin McCarthy 70 seconds later to put Cochrane in front 4-3.

The tallies kept coming as the visitors drew level at 6:50 of the session when Smith skated around the back of the net then fed an open Harry Clark, who quickly finished off his fourth of the season.

From there, the offensive play continued with Timmins regaining the lead half way through off a Cole Williamson point effort that was nicely redirected by Graeme McCrory in front as he collected his first NOJHL goal.

He then added his second league marker as he scored on the power play.

In the third, the Rock broke it open with a three-tally outburst to help them win going away

Timmins captain Derek Seguin forced a turnover he came in on a two-man break, while shorthanded, then set-up Smith for his second of the night while his club was down a skater.

Capitalizing on another odd-man rush, Landon Deforge finished off the play while Henry Brock tacked on his club’s ninth of the evening to round out the scoring.
 
Leading the way offensively was the Timmins trio of Smith, Dickson and Seguin as they combined for 11 points in the triumph.

The Rock also held a big edge in shots in their road victory as it ended up 59-25 in their favour.

The clubs are back it Sunday at 3 p.m., in Cochrane with the game being available online at HockeyTV.com.

Game Photos: Emily Martin