COCHRANE, Ont. – Reid Ramsay was there when called upon to register his first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League shutout Saturday and saw teammate Hunter Friesen tally twice as part of a 7-0 triumph over the Cochrane Crunch in a contest held at Tim Horton Events Centre.
Setting the tone early, Sault Ste. Marie put four past Cochrane starter Marcus Ouellet before the contest was nine minutes old.
Kenny Belanger Jr., began the outburst just 50 seconds in as he banked one in while driving to the net from the left side.
The Eagles then went up a pair a couple of shifts later as Friesen finished off a rapid three-way passing play from in close.
They then saw Michael Stec put one by Ouellet from the left circle at 4:46 before Chase Tallaire notched a fourth for the Soo at 8:17 as he jammed in a loose puck off a Koby Fox attempt from between the hash marks.
Adding to their lead in the second stanza, the Eagles controlled a faceoff and worked it to Jack Mortson, who made no mistake from the slot for his team-leading 28th at 14:27.
Helping finish off the road win in the third was Friesen, who jammed one under the pad of Ouellet, for his second of the night at 9:35.
They then capped off the result in the final minute when Peter Pawlanta notched his initial NOJHL marker by tucking one in from close range.
With the victory, the Eagles raise their record to 22-26-4-1 while the Crunch dropped to 7-43-1-1 in defeat.
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