3-point night for Neault as Blind River slips past North Bay

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Friday, March 7, 2014

3-point night for Neault as Blind River slips past North Bay

MATTAWA – Matthew Neault tallied twice, including the game-winner, and also set-up another to help lift the Blind River Beavers past the North Bay Trappers 5-4 Friday night at Mike Rodden Arena in Mattawa in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League game action.

Each side scored twice in the opening 20 minutes with Luke MacDonald and Jacob Boisvenue connecting for Blind River while Shawn Tessier and C.J. Nicholson countered for North Bay.

The Beavers then found the back of the net three times in the middle session compared to once for the Trappers to take a 5-3 lead into the final frame.

Neault and Tyler Shanush put Blind River up a pair to chase Lucas Paulsen from the North Bay net before Tyler Broderson pulled the Trappers closer with 6:05 to go in the session.

Two and half minutes later Neault struck again, in what would turn out turn out to be the difference maker, as he beat affiliate Ben Auger after receiving a feed from Boisvenue.

In the third Kyle Baril added one with 39 seconds to go, but his side could get no closer as they dropped the one-goal decision.

Jessie Morin made 29 saves to register the victory for Blind River.

Paulsen allowed four against on 14 shots for the Trappers with Auger suffering the setback as he turned aside all but one of the 26 attempts he saw in just over 33 minutes of relief.

The NOJHL returns to the ice Saturday on three fronts as Abitibi hosts North Bay, Blind River entertains Kirkland Lake and Sault Ste. Marie welcomes Sudbury in a trio of 7:30 p.m. starts.