KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – The Kirkland Lake Gold Miners received shutout netminding from Victor-Olivier Courchsene to win their eighth Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League game in a row Sunday as they blanked the highest scoring team in the league, the Cochrane Crunch, 2-0 at the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
After a scoreless opening frame, Kirkland Lake struck 4:19 into the second session with Logan Frdericks notching his 24th tally of the season, in what proved to be the game-winning goal.
Brandon Wolfe then extended the Gold Miners lead at 16:52 of the period as his 14th of 2015-16 put the home side up by two entering the third.
Courchesne did the rest for Kirkland Lake as he turned aside all 26 shots he faced to register his second shutout of the season.
Brett Young stopped 27 of the 29 attempts he faced in defeat for the Crunch, as the NOJHL leaders in goals scored were blanked for the first time this season.
The Gold Miners will go in search in win No. 9 in succession Friday as they travel to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., to take on the Soo Eagles in a 7:30 p.m. start at Pullar Stadium. The Eagles themselves have won five in a row.
