FRENCH RIVER – A Kyle Avery goal late in the first period held up as the game-winner while netminder Ben Montgomery finished with 34 saves to help lead the French River Rapids to a narrow 2-1 triumph over the Cochrane Crunch Friday night in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at Noelville Arena.
All the offensive production in this one came in the opening stanza in what turned out to be a low-scoring affair.
Avery and Cooper Lobsinger helped set-up Joshua Shears to put French River on the board five and a half minutes into the contest.
Cochrane answered back at 12:38 of the frame with Nick Belisle being credited with an unassisted effort.
From there, Avery added the difference maker before the frame was complete with assists going to Reid Manning and Cameron Henderson.
Montgomery did the rest as backstopped his side to his first NOJHL victory.
Crunch goaltender Carson Boutin faced 24 shots in defeat.
Game Photos courtesy of Dal Photography
