Game Photos: Bob Davies
SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – A clutch Caleb Minns marker with 3:48 remaining was the game-winner as the Blind River Beavers earned a narrow 2-1 road victory over the Soo Thunderbirds Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter at the John Rhodes Community Centre.
Each side would strike once in the opening 20 minutes as they hit the first intermission knotted at one.
The Thunderbirds’ Samuel Lake notched his initial league goal near the midway point of the frame as he took a nice feed from the behind the net and made no mistake from in close.
Answering back before the period was complete when Jesse Dupuis clicked on the power play at 17:54 after taking a nifty cross-ice pass from Jackson Barnes and was left with a one-timer into the open side.
The goaltenders, in Blind River’s Jeremi Delaquis and Sault Ste. Marie’s Noah Metivier were solid in a scoreless middle session.
Then with overtime looming, Minns took a crisp cross-ice pass from Ryan Doucette and promptly wired in the winner from the slot passed Metivier, who had no chance on the play.
Picking up a late man advantage, the Soo had a chance to force extra time, only to be stymied by Delaquis and the Blind River defenders before time ran out.
The Beavers’ goaltender made 24 saves in collecting his first NOJHL victory while Metivier made 32 stops in defeat.
Games summaries, statistics and standings can be found online at NOJHL.com.
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