BLIND RIVER, Ont. – A Justin Mauro marker, 55 seconds into overtime, was the decider for the Blind River Beavers in a hotly-contested 3-2 triumph over the Soo Thunderbirds Thursday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action at the Blind River Community Centre.
The NOJHL’s leading point-getter, in Blind River’s Caleb Serre, had a chance to open the scoring early on, after being awarded a penalty shot, but he was denied on his attempt by Sault Ste. Marie starter Colin Ahern.
Serre did strike however with seven seconds remaining in the middle frame as he collected his 13th of the season while also running an impressive consecutive game point streak to 11.
The Thunderbirds came out quickly in the third to level the proceedings when Matthew Bazarin buried his seventh of the campaign a minute in with assistance from Tristan Cicchello and Tyler Savard.
Skating in his fourth league contest, Andrew Malek put the Beavers back in front at 14:56, as his second overall gave the home side the edge.
However, the visitors answered once more with Jacob Kovacs collecting his fourth with under three minutes remaining in regulation to force extra time.
Early in OT, Mauro supplied the game-winner with the two teams skating three aside as division-leading Blind River improved to 8-1-1-0 on the season.
The goal by Mauro saw him join Serre with 11-game point streaks so far this season.
Max Tucker chipped in with two assists in the outing for the hosts, including one on the difference maker.
Shots on goal in the contest favoured the Beavers by a 36-33 count with Jonathan Lemaire recording the victory while Ahern’s 33 stops helped the Soo pick up a point in defeat as they slipped to 3-6-0-2 on the year.
