GALLERY: Naughton hat trick leads Blind River over Elliot Lake

Game Photos: Helene Rancourt

BLIND RIVER, Ont. – A three-goal night from Meguire Naughton helped send the Blind River Beavers to a 4-1 decision over the Elliot Lake Red Wings Thursday evening in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest at the Blind River Community Centre.

A late first period marker gave the Beavers the lead as Jesse Dupuis got the play to the right of the net where Naughton chipped the puck over the pad of Elliot Lake goaltender Cameron Smith.

It was more from McNaughton near the five-minute mark of the middle session as he clicked on the power play by burying the rebound off an Ethan Pegg attempt from up high.

He then capped off his natural hat trick at 8:42 of the period as he corralled the loose disk and snapped it upstairs from the top of the crease.

The Red Wings got one back before the stanza came to a close as Kaden Laverdiere converted on a man advantage for his sixth of the season as he took a feed from behind the net from Jovani Moses and quickly converted from close range.

Blind River then secured the home ice victory with 2:14 to go as Dakota Seaman skated down the right side and snapped one blocker side to round out the scoring.

Caleb Minns was credited with assists on all three of Naughton’s tallies to join him with a three-point night.

Gavin Disano made 40 saves to collect the win for the Beavers while Smith faced 40 shots against in defeat.