NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
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FRENCH RIVER – Responding from a one-sided setback Saturday, the Blind River Beavers bounced back to defeat the French River Rapids 7-0 Sunday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League get together at Noelville Arena.
Registering his second shutout of the season in the triumph was Beavers’ goaltender Connor Dunham-Fox.
After being blanked last night in a road loss at the Soo Eagles, Blind River wasted little time in getting on the board in this one when Owen King skated over the blueline along the right side and snapped a shot high over the blocker of French River netminder Nicholas Tarantella, 30 seconds in, for his team-leading 30th tally of the season.
Going up by two, Beavers’ defenceman Owen van de Ven collected his initial NOJHL goal after taking a drop pass from Jacob Beemer at the blueline, then worked his way to the slot where he buried one into the top left corner.
That resulted in a goaltending change by the Rapids, with Zachary Burleigh entering in relief in place of Tarantella.
A third in the session came about when Jonah McIndoo pushed a play ahead off a draw and while going to the net stuffed in his eighth of the campaign.
A scoreless middle frame kept the count 3-0 as the clubs went to their respective dressing rooms for the second intermission.
In the third period, the visitors busted it open with a trio of tallies to put it out of reach.
Shea Crewson chipped a play off the boards and raced down the right wing before wiring a shot upstairs to make it 4-0 Blind River.
Then, Ryder Hill had a couple of in-close cracks at a loose puck before eventually stuffing it in at 7:21.
A sixth in the contest for the Beavers was provided by Kalyn McQueen as he banked one in off of the French River goaltender from below the goal line.
Rylan Gibbs then batted one in during the latter stages of the contest to wrap-up the victory for Blind River.
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