GALLERY: 8-goal outburst sends Rayside-Balfour past Blind River

BLIND RIVER, Ont. – The Rayside-Balfour Canadians collected eight goals, including four in the third period, as they went on to defeat the Blind River Beavers 8-3 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League matinee Sunday at the Blind River Community Centre.

Blind River did score quickly to commence the contest as Andrew Malek put the Beavers on the board at 1:07 with his seventh marker of the campaign.

The rest of the first frame was all Rayside-Balfour however as they tallies in a span of just over six minutes to gain a 3-1 edge after one period of play.

Mitchell Martin started the Canadians offensive outburst at 11:13 during a man advantage opportunity before Nicholas DeGrazia struck shorthanded a few shifts later.

The visitors’ Brady Maltais extended their lead before the session was out thanks to an even-strength effort.

Gavin Brown then made it 4-1 for RBC as he converted on a power play chance at 3:46.

Battling back, Blind River got goals from Kyle Quinn and another from Malek, who converted with his side up a skater, to bring the hosts to within one heading into the third period of play.

Rayside-Balfour went back up by two four and a half minutes into the final stanza when Mathieu Dokis-Dupuis picked up his 14th goal of 2019-20.

Up a skater moments later, the Canadians added to their cushion when Zachary Snow clicked on the power play.

The outburst continued at 6:17 as Oliver Smith put in his 18th to help put the game out of reach.

DeGrazia then added another in the back half of the third to finish off the road victory.

Rayside-Balfour goaltender David Bowen made 24 saves to pick up the win in his return to the Canadians lineup.

Jackson Hjelle started for Blind River and allowed three against on 13 chances in one period of work while Dominic Boily suffered the defeat in relief, giving up five on the 27 shots he faced.