HEARST, Ont. – A Max Griffioen marker just past the three-minute point of the third period proved to be the game-winner as the surging Hearst Lumberjacks skated to their eighth consecutive Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League victory, a 4-1 decision over the Cochrane Crunch Friday evening at Claude Larose Arena in front of 734 spectators.
A late man advantage in the first period helped Hearst open the scoring as Olivier Cloutier-Faucher scored on the power play at 17:32 to put the hosts in front after one.
Moving on to the middle session, Cochrane collected the equalizer midway through the frame thanks to a Hunter Buzzi shorthanded marker.
In the third, Griffioen notched his club-high 22nd tally at 3:09 for Hearst to put them back in front for good.
The Lumberjacks’ special teams provided some insurance half way into the final session as Cloutier-Faucher picked up his second man advantage effort of the evening.
In the late going the Crunch pulled their netminder for an extra attacker, but Jake Desando sealed the triumph for Hearst with an empty netter at 19:32.
David Gobeil and Spencer Silver dished out two assists apiece to aid the winners cause.
Shots on goal favoured the Lumberjacks 31-29 with Liam Oxner picking up the win while Zach Wickson suffered the defeat.
Game Photos courtesy of Marianka Cantin
