NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
*************************
BLIND RIVER – Two tallies apiece from Caleb Walker and A.J. Saadeh were part of a five-goal second-period outburst that sent the Blind River Beavers on their way to a 7-2 triumph over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Saturday evening in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) match-up at the Blind River Community Centre.
Blind River bagged the evening’s initial marker near the midway point of the first period when Levi Lux fired a shot from the left circle that looked to hit off a defender and elude Kirkland Lake starter Mason Janicki.
Answering right back, the Gold Miners drew level thanks to Patrick Farmer’s first NOJHL goal as he took a pass in the high slot and whipped it past the blocker of the Beavers’ Bronx Bodnar.
Still tied into the middle stanza, the home side went in front after denying a shorthanded chance in their own zone.
A play then went up the ice that allowed Walker to race in alone on a breakaway where he fired a shot through the legs of Janicki to score in his NOJHL debut.
Another Blind River power play marker made it 3-1 as Saadeh took a cross-ice pass from Mason Taylor and cranked a one-timer from the point that flew through traffic into the back of the net.
Duplicating the feat at 11:29 with another extra-man effort, Saadeh was set-up by Taylor once again and hammered a blast from nearly the same spot past Janicki.
Breaking it open right after that, Walker notched his second as he took a feed from Owen King and lifted in a backhand into the right corner.
Adding to the onslaught, Blind River forced a turnover that led to YiBin Yoo teeing up Owen King, who ripped in his team-leading 36th tally of the season.
Trading tallies in the first half of the final frame, Kirkland Lake’s Inde Abresch clicked at 1:52 by pumping in a Jordan Fitger set-up from between the circles.
However, the Beavers put the game out of reach when a Mattis Lafond attempt pinballed off a pair of skates, including Jonah McIndoo, before it found its way in.
That proved to be the game’s final goal as Blind River skated away with the victory.
*************************