Photos: Hélène Rancourt
BLIND RIVER, Ont. – The Blind River Beavers saw Caleb Walker tally twice, including notching the eventual game-winner, and add an assist to aid in a 6-2 triumph over the Iroquois Falls Storm in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Sunday afternoon affair at the Blind River Community Centre.
Despite a pair of power plays for each side, including a two-man advantage for the Storm, there were no goals scored in the opening 20 minutes.
In the second stanza, the Beavers broke the deadlock 13 minutes into it when Armando Rojo-Bolton notched his first in a Blind River jersey when he lifted in a loose puck put in front from Walker past Storm netminder Lucas Cardiff-Bilodeau.
Adding another late in the session, Ryder Hill blasted in his team-leading 13th tally of the season from the right of the net off a feed down-low from Julien Loiselle, who collected his first NOJHL point, with the assist.
Extending their lead nearly five minutes into the third period, the Beavers’ Walker raced in alone down the left side and beat Cardiff-Bilodeau.
A splendid individual effort from Lucas Willoughby put Iroquois Falls on the board as he powered his way around several defenders before driving his way into the slot, where he spun and wired a shot high over the blocker of Blind River goaltender Justin Sullivan.
Coming right back, the Storm notched another to pull within one 48 seconds later thanks to Ryan McCoy, who went to the net, with help from Simon Lemieux and Rafek Dianov, and chipped in a second chance at the top of the crease.
Regrouping, the home side went back up by two midway through the third when Austin Schultz finished off a quick give-and-go in deep with Wyatt Jaratt during a man advantage.
Following the tally, Iroquois Falls back-up Michael Tamburro entered in relief after Cardiff-Bilodeau was sent off on a penalty call.
Securing the victory with 7:14 remaining, the Beavers won a draw back to Samuel Gravel at the point, who fired a shot to the net, that was redirected in by Walker.
Icing the win in the final seconds, Camden Cowan chipped a play ahead that allowed Ethan McLean to go in and roof a shot on Tamburro to wrap-up the result.
With the outcome, the Beavers improve to 11-21-0-4 and with the setback after three road games in two and a half days, the Storm slipped to 10-21-2-2.
