Lachance stops 41 of 42 as Canadians get by Crunch

CHELMSFORD, Ont. – Rayside-Balfour Canadians goaltender Brayden Lachance stopped 41 of the 42 shots fired his way to help backstop his side to a 3-1 triumph over the Cochrane Crunch in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League inter-division match-up Sunday evening at Chelmsford Arena.

First period play saw Rayside-Balfour pick-up the lone marker of the opening frame when Kyle Liinamaa collected his 24th tally of the season at 13:16 with assists going to Jacob Partridge and Taylor Woolcott.

The marker also helped Liinamaa run a modest point streak to five straight outings.

Woolcott then upped the home side’s cushion with his 15th goal of the year 4:23 into the middle session to put the Canadians up 2-0 after 40 minutes.

They then added some insurance early in the third on Noah Serre’s 11th at 3:43.

Cochrane would dash Lachance’s shutout bid with just 84 seconds remaining in regulation in what would be the night’s final marker.

Partridge chipped in with two assists on the night to aid Rayside-Balfour cause while Lachance was stellar making in recording the victory.

Cochrane netminder Taylor Unruh faced 30 attempts in defeat for the Crunch.