Crunch these playoff numbers
Cochrane Crunch scored a bunch in its playoff sweep of the Timmins Rock and now the small-market Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League team will face the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners in the East Division finals.
Being better-managed than the opposition led to better results as Cochrane out-scored Timmins by a resounding 27-9 margin in the four-game sweep.
In just its second season in Cochrane, the Crunch is once again trying to make it to the NOJHL championship series, which is no small feat for the Ryan Leonard-operated team that plays out of a small northeastern Ontario town of about 5,500 residents.
To be sure, it was not a case of puck luck as Cochrane rocked Timmins in the East Division semi-final.
Seven Cochrane players had at least five points in the four games and goalie Brett Young stopped 126 of 135 shots.
Dustin Cordeiro led the Crunch past the Rock with 7 goals, 3 assists, 10 points.
Then it was Jeremy McNeil with 1-6-7 totals followed by Hunter Atchison at 4-2-6, Joey Mavrin at 2-4-6, John Stevenson at 3-2-5, Jon Marzec at 2-3-5 and Aviv Milner at 0-5-5.
Cochrane begins defense of its East Division playoff crown with Game 1 at home on Friday night against the Dudley-Hewitt Cup hosts from Kirkland Lake.
It’s crunch time!
The difference between actively recruiting players and sitting around thinking they will come to you……
After following all teams there is No doubt that the four best teams
are still in the playoff. K L and Cc probably two teams that recruits
12 months a year. You are correct Hockeye, cant sit at home and live off
your name and expect to win. Teams like Crunch and Miners would sell out
every game in Timmins.
You got that right Hockeye.Hope the Crunch go all the way.
Great series on offer. Calling for Kirkland Lake to upset the Crunch in six games.
I don’t think you could call it an upset Espofan2. both teams were pretty much
equal during the season. Could also be a sweep for K L.