Herbster scores 2, sets up 2 more as Cochrane defeats Hearst

HEARST, Ont. – Kyle Herbster tallied twice and helped set-up two more to power the Cochrane Crunch to a 5-2 victory over the Hearst Lumberjacks in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Claude Larose Arena Friday night.

Cochrane kicked off the night’s scoring 5:22 into the contest as Levi Johnson scored for the ninth time in the campaign.

Hearst did draw level however before the first period was complete on a Zach Dorval effort at 14:31.

The Crunch regained the lead in the second, via a man advantage marker of Connor Lovie, who collected his 13th at 11:34 of the middle session.

Herbster would put the visitors up by a pair early in the third as his 34th goal of the season made it 3-1 at 3:21.

Cochrane would extend their cushion midway through the third when Austin Stauffer picked up his 30th tally of the year.

They then put the game away in the late going as Herbster scored shorthanded into an empty net for his 35th goal overall.

Alec Johnson did get one back for the Lumberjacks with a power play goal in the final seconds to round out the scoring.

Zach Hayes and Levi Johnson joined Herbster with two assists apiece for the Crunch.

Shots on net in the contest favoured Cochrane by a 49-40 margin with Taylor Unruh picking up the win while Matt Kustra suffered the loss.