HEARST, Ont. – A four-goal second period outburst helped lift the Cochrane Crunch to a 6-2 decision over the Hearst Lumberjacks in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Sunday at Claude Larose Arena.
The visiting Crunch also opened the scoring with the lone tally of the first frame as Trent Grimshaw picked up his fourth of the season 12 and a half minutes into the contest.
On the power play to commence the second stanza, Cochrane went up by two thanks to a Shadow Reuben effort at 1:06.
Hearst got one back near the middle portion of the session on a Cameron Clark effort, but the Crunch struck three times in under a six-minute span to extend their lead in a big way.
Jacob Stos started the offensive outburst at 11:57 before Nicolas Flanders picked up his 10th a couple shifts later and Hunter Buzzi added his eighth at 17:47.
Moving on to the third, Bradley Golant brought the Lumberjacks closer early in the third as he notched his fourth since rejoining the club in late October.
Another by Flanders though with six minutes left help secure the road win for Cochrane.
Austin Whelan and Taylor Redmond chipped in with two assists each for the Crunch as did Maxim Lacroix for Hearst.
Bradley Dobson was called upon to make 37 saves in net for Cochrane in picking up his first NOJHL victory.
Nicholas Tallarico started for the Lumberjacks and suffered the loss, allowing five against on 25 shots.
Tomi Gagnon meanwhile handled nine of 10 in just over 22 minutes of relief for the home side.