Game Photos: Emily Martin
COCHRANE, Ont. – Matteo Gennaro was there to stop all 16 shots he faced to register his initial Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League shutout as the Hearst Lumberjacks blanked the Cochrane Crunch 5-0 Friday at Tim Horton Events Centre.
Hearst began the scoring near the midway mark of the first period as Robbie Rutledge finished off a nice give-and-go from close range.
The Lumberjacks then took a 2-0 cushion to the intermission thanks to a Riley Klugerman backhand while right in front of Cochrane netminder Ben DiGiallonardo.
It was more from the visitors, five and half minutes into the middle session, with Zachary Demers finishing one off in slot following some nice work courtesy of Raphael Lajeunesse.
Hearst then held firm the rest of the period as took their 3-0 lead into the third.
There, William Neeld had a couple of whacks at a loose puck before eventually knocking in his fourth of the season as he has now scored in three straight outings to extend the lead.
The Lumberjacks then wrapped things up with two minutes to go as Cody Walker sent a crisp cross-crease pass over to a hard-charging Justin Carriere as the Hearst blueliner came through the back door and jammed in his first NOJHL goal.
DiGiallonardo was extremely busy in defeat, seeing 52 shots pumped his way throughout the night.
