SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The Blind River Beavers continued their solid start to the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League campaign Saturday as they went on to topple the Soo Thunderbirds 6-4 at John Rhodes Community Centre.
Earning a 4-1 decision over Sault Ste. Marie at home Friday, they kept it going on this night getting a goal and three assists from defenceman Bryan Clahassey while Lucas Adam tallied twice for a second consecutive night in helping lead their club to the triumph.
The visiting gained the lead that they would never relinquish 2:39 into the contest on a Joel Martin marker.
Up a skater later the in the first, Blind River went up by a pair as Adams scored on the power play.
A man advantage help the Thunderbirds cut into the deficit as Nolan Ford’s first of the season put the hosts on the board.
Answering back in the second stanza, the Beavers tacked on two more to go up 4-1 as Caleb Serre, with his league-leading sixth, and Milos Todorovic opening NOJHL goal extended the cushion.
The Soo’s power play added another midway through the session on Matthew Bazarin’s fourth of the year.
Quick strikes from Adams, at even strength, and Clahassey kept Blind River going offensively as they led by four with under 14 minutes to go.
Battling their way into it, the Thunderbirds got late markers courtesy of Will Josephson and Cooper Smyl in the back portion of the third to make it interesting before time expired.
Beavers’ netminder Jonathan Lemaire made his NOJHL debut on the night and finished with 35 stops in picking up the victory.
Dakota Meyer started for the Soo and suffered the loss allowing the six against on 24 attempts while Colin Ahern saved all chances he faced in nearly 14 minutes of relief.
Game Photos courtesy of Bob Davies