HEARST, Ont. – A Kyle Herbster shorthanded goal early in the second period saw him score for a sixth consecutive outing and was also the game-winner as the Cochrane Crunch went on to defeat the Hearst Lumberjacks 4-1 Wednesday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at Claude Larose Arena.
Cochrane collected the night’s opening marker six and a half minutes into the contest as Austin Caza notched his third of the season.
Down a man to begin the middle stanza, Herbster buried his 12th of the campaign while extending his goal streak to a half dozen while picking up a point in seven straight.
Hearst cut into the deficit with 10:16 to go in regulation as affiliate Jacob Comeau scored his first NOJHL tally in his league debut.
Cochrane answered that however picking up some insurance at 13:15 off the stick of Laramie Kostelansky, via the power play.
They then iced it in the late gong compliments of Austin Stauffer’s shorthanded empty netter to secure the victory.
Shayne Battler made 29 stops to pick up the win for the Crunch while Nicholas Dube faced 29 attempts in defeat for the Lumberjacks.
Photos courtesy of Jimmy Cote Photography