NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Nov. 13, 2015
Crunch withstands Express rally to win 6-5
COCHRANE, Ont. – The Cochrane Crunch stormed out to a 4-0 lead after one period then had to withstand a rally by the Espanola Express to pull out a 6-5 victory in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up Friday at the Tim Horton Event Centre.
It was all Cochrane in the opening frame as they struck four times to take early control of the contest.
Hunter Atchison put the Crunch up 1-0 with his 25th of the season at 1:46.
Tallies 90 seconds apart by Jeran Knorr and Evan Akkerman put the home team up by three while Lucas Robinson added to the cushion 15:02.
After Joseph Thielen made it 5-0 early in the middle session, Espanola came to life starting with a Charlie Venedam effort at 2:38.
Joel Grandbois made it 5-2 midway through the contest and Cameron Anklewich added another at 15:22.
Riley Tilot brough the Express to within one 55 seconds later causing Cochrane to replace starter Kurtis David in favour of Brett Young the rest of the way.
John Stevenson’s 11th of the campaign 7:48 into the third put the Crunch back up by a pair.
Espanola came back again netting a power play tally at 14:27 from Keenan Kennedy to inch closer once again, but it would turn out to be the final goal of the night as Cochrane held on for the win.
Seamus Maguire doled out three assists for the Crunch with Patrick Smith having a couple of helpers for the Express.
Young stopped 14 of 15 in relief to register the victory with David seeing 21 shots in his stint.
Kevin Labelle saw 46 pucks fired his way in defeat for the Express.
