Photos: Helene Rancourt
BLIND RIVER, Ont. – The Blind River Beavers built up a three-goal lead late in regulation before having to withstand a valiant push by the French River Rapids and eventually prevailing 4-3 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Saturday at the Blind River Community Centre.
Neither side would convert offensively in a scoreless opening 20 minutes as the teams went to their respective dressing rooms still knotted at 0-0.
Breaking the ice 6:52 into the second period, the Beavers’ Whittaker Heart was left with an easy tap in on French River netminder Keiran Caughran after some sharp puck movement by linemates Patrice Lafontaine and Danny MacDonald.
Coming back to tie it via the power play, Jonah Gareau put the Rapids on the board in the back half of the frame when he took a crisp cross-ice pass from Jack Wilson and whipped it short side past the blocker of Blind River goaltender Mason Janicki from the left circle.
Regaining the lead with under a minute to play in the second, Jack Kruiderink used some crafty play making to set-up MacDonald on the right side who scored during a late man advantage.
In the third, the home side went up by a pair at 13:40 Jonah McIndoo scooped up a rebound and the top of the crease and lifted in a backhand by a sprawling Caughran.
Blind River then saw Preston Carvalho make it 4-1 two minutes later as he registered his first in his NOJHL debut after knocking down a loose puck in the slot and whipping it upstairs.
Battling back, Gareau connected once more for the Rapids with 2:21 remaining by neatly working a give-and-go in close with Tristan Kitchen.
Gareau then completed his initial league hat trick with 15 seconds to go by connecting during a goal-mouth scramble with a backhand through a crowd with French River having an extra attacker.
However, the comeback bid fell just short as the Beavers held on for the narrow result.
