Game Photos: Emily Martin
COCHRANE, Ont. – Cochrane Crunch netminder Ben DeGiallonardo was impressive, making 54 saves to backstop his side to a 2-1 victory over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play Friday at Tim Horton Events Centre.
The Crunch began the night’s scoring deep into the first frame as Brett Cameron buried his first NOJHL tally at 17:06 by lifting a back hand over the glove of Kirkland Lake’s Zachary Reddy as he finished off a Nolan Bull feed.
Moving to the second period, Cochrane tacked on another three and a half minutes in thanks to Liam Boswell’s fifth as he scooped up a loose puck, went in on Reddy, and deposited another bank hand into the net.
Special team helped the Gold Miners to get one back as Spencer Jones scored on lengthy power play at 12:10 by burying a rebound off a Chance DeBolt attempt from the slot.
It stayed that way the rest of the contest with Cochrane having a late empty netter nullified by the buzzer, but they still earned the home ice triumph.
Reddy faced 33 attempts in the narrow setback for Kirkland Lake.
