Photos: Hélène Rancourt
BLIND RIVER, Ont. – The Blind River Beavers saw Camden Cowan collect his first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League hat trick Saturday as part of a 5-2 win over the French River Rapids at the Blind River Community Centre.
Striking quickly, Bryson Villeneuve gave the Rapids an early 1-0 lead just 37 seconds into the contest when he spun in a crowd and fired an attempt that clipped off defenders and sailed in past Beavers’ starter Justin Sullivan.
Pulling even midway through the first period, Blind River controlled a draw which allowed defenceman Shea Crewson to send a shot to the net that was tipped in by Cowan.
The tally saw Cowan run a point streak to five.
Adding to that, the home side went in front a couple of minutes later as Leighton Hurst pressured a play in the corner and fed Jonah McIndoo in the slot where he ripped one over the blocker of French River’s Matis Bureau-Morel.
McIndoo also has points in five straight while collecting the second assist on that goal was newcomer James Lin, who was making his NOJHL debut.
Building on that, the Beavers took a 3-1 lead into the first intermission as Ryder Hill took a sharp pass put his way by Ellyot Dundas that he took to his left and lifted in.
Moving to the middle frame, the Rapids got back to within one at 8:35 when Michael Morascyzk benefitted by a turnover in the neutral zone generated by Villeneuve that allowed him to race in alone and wire in his 11th of the season while scoring for a fourth straight contest.
It remained 3-2 for the hosts into the third period where Blind River picked up some insurance while on the power play that led to Cowan providing his second of the evening with a sizzler from the left circle.
They then iced it in the late going as Cowan capped off his hat trick with an empty netter to wrap things up.
With the victory the Beavers improve to 8-12-0-3, while in defeat, the Rapids sink to 4-21-0-1.
