Photos: Helene Rancourt
BLIND RIVER, Ont. – Blind River Beavers’ netminder Patrick Boivin turned aside each shot he faced to backstop his club to a 2-0 shutout victory over the Elliot Lake Red Wings Sunday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League matinee at the Blind River Recreation Centre.
The contest also saw NOJHL history made as Brandy Beecroft became the first female to officiate a game, as a referee, in league history.
On Friday, Joelle Ouelette was the second to work as a linesperson in NOJHL play.
Sunday’s tilt was scoreless after one period of play, despite Blind River holding a big edge in shots on goal.
In the middle session, the Beavers broke the deadlock near the midway point of the proceedings when Jesse Dupuis roofed one from the right of Elliot Lake netminder Cameron Smith.
Building on that, the home side came right back and tacked on another, just over a minute later, with Ethan Pegg providing his 10th of the season via a blast from the point.
It stayed 2-0 Blind River into the third where Boivin and his teammates held firm the rest of the way to secure the home ice triumph.
The shutout was Boivin’s first as a member of the Beavers and second overall.
