Blind River Beavers Cochrane Crunch Elliot Lake Red Wings Espanola Paper Kings French River Rapids Greater Sudbury Cubs Hearst Lumberjacks Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Powassan Voodoos Soo Eagles Soo Thunderbirds Timmins Rock | Hockey Canada Canadian Junior Hockey League Northern Ontario Hockey Association

VIDEO / GALLERY: Beavers bounce Red Wings

Photos: Helene Rancourt

BLIND RIVER, Ont. – An early three-goal lead sent the Blind River Beavers on their way to an eventual 7-2 win over the Elliot Lake Red Wings Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest held at the Blind River Recreation Centre.

The hometown Beavers got going offensively four and a half minutes into the proceedings when Michael Gallagher chopped a puck to Jacob Kovacs, who had plenty of room to finish off his 11th goal of the season.

Going to the power play helped Blind River make it 2-0 at 11:32 of the first period as Caleb Minns did a little dash in the Elliot Lake end before eventually zipping a shot from the left circle that flew past Red Wings’ goalkeeper Sean Guerin.

A third tally for the home side came five minutes later as Minns won a race to the puck behind the goal line and chipped it in front to a waiting Jesse Dupuis, who threw it into the top shelf for his 27th overall NOJHL marker.

Getting one back before the intermission, the Red Wings’ Ethan Mercer put a backhand off the end boards that bounced to Sam Noad, who lifted his chance by Blind River starter Gavin Disano at 18:16.

Second period play saw the visitors pull to within one less than a minute into the stanza as Noad put a rising attempt across to Ryan Daponte who quickly fired it into the open corner.

Blind River responded though a couple of shifts later when Nicholas Brady put one through the maze of bodies that found its way in from the high slot.

Going up 5-2 after 40 minutes, the Beavers Jack Robinson wheeled up the left wing with speed before snapping one by Guerin with a crisp snap shot.

In the third, special teams helped the hosts put the game away as Evan Fraccaro converted on a man advantage while Minns struck shorthanded.

Fraccaro’s effort was a one-timer from between the hash marks and Minns’ man-down marker saw him finish off a two-man break via a crisp give-and-go with Robinson.

With the win, Blind River wins for a 30th time on the campaign, going to 30-10-2-2 overall.

Meanwhile in defeat, Elliot Lake fell to 13-27-1-2.

“Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel