Photos: Cassy Seguin
FRENCH RIVER – An explosive start saw the Blind River Beavers strike five times in a one-sided first period to send them on their way to an 8-2 triumph over the French River Rapids in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Sunday matinee at Noelville Arena.
Blind River wasted little time in opening the scoring when Nicholas MacIsaac pumped a shot over the shoulder of French River starter Brock Grein from the slot, just 58 seconds into the match-up.
Building on that, the Beavers’ Jack Kruiderink jammed in a loose puck off a Mattis Lafond attempt from the left circle at 5:58.
Coming right back, the visitors added another on the next shift thanks to Owen King, who notched his team-leading 15th tally, by converting in close.
That resulted in a goaltending change for the home side as Nicholas Tarantella entered in extended relief.
Bagging another while shorthanded, Isaiah Allen sent a long clearing attempt down the ice that fooled Tarantella, hit his stick and bounced in to put Blind River up by four.
Adding to the onslaught, Wyatt Gibson came over the blueline and snapped a shot that the French River goalkeeper could only get a piece of before it rolled in at 13:39.
Extending their edge while up a skater midway through the game, Aaron Dukeshire snagged his own rebound and pumped it past Grein, who had returned in net for the Rapids to begin the second.
French River did get on the board during a man advantage at 14:10 as Tucker Roberts lifted in a backhand off a scramble in front that eluded goaltender Reid Thomas, who was making his NOJHL debut for the Beavers.
Up a skater five and a half minutes into the third, the Rapids got another when Michael Christopoulos knocked in a rebound off a Ralph Coulis shot.
Gibson then tipped in a Kruiderink feed into the crease during a power play prior and snapped in another at even strength to finish off a hat trick in the late going to complete the one-sided result.
The win extends Blind River’s record to 14-7-1-0 and the loss drops French River to 6-12-1-2.