BLIND RIVER, Ont. – Riding the strength of a six-goal, second period barrage, the Blind River Beavers went on the blast the French River Rapids 8-2 Saturday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League encounter at the Blind River Community Centre.
The Beavers began the scoring at 13:12 of the first when defenceman Nicholas MacIsaac fired a rising attempt from the top of the left circle by Rapids’ starter Brock Grein.
Blind River then notched another, a minute and a half later, thanks to Ryder Hill finishing off a feed from A.J. Saadeh.
Heading to the second stanza, the home side blew it open with a six-pack to extend their big lead.
Wyatt Gibson made it 3-0 by whipping in an attempt through traffic from the high slot, before Blind River affiliate player Wyatt Jarratt clicked on a five-on-three in his NOJHL debut.
A change saw Grein removed in favour of back-up Nicholas Tarantella, but the Beavers continued to pour it on from there.
Another extra-man effort, off the stick of YiBin Yoo, saw him supply his first league goal, by ripping one upstairs.
A Saadeh blast, then Clark Furman on a two-man advantage beat Grein who had come back in net, and Owen King at even strength while alone in front, capped off the outburst in the session.
In the third, French River broke the shutout bid of Beavers’ goalkeeper Connor Dunham-Fox three minutes in thanks to a goal credited to Zachary Bartzis.
The Rapids then got one more at 15:02 when Bryson Villeneuve chopped in a chance from the top of the crease, during a power play, to round out the scoring.
With the victory, Blind River improved to 16-9-1-0 and in defeat French River fell to 8-14-1-2.
