BLIND RIVER, Ont. – Two points apiece from Caleb Serre, David Campbell and Nathan Balkwill helped the Blind River Beavers defeat the Soo Eagles 5-2 in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League afternoon affair Sunday at the Blind River Community Centre.
It took just 10 seconds for the NOJHL’s leading goal-getter and point producer, in the Beavers’ Serre, to open the scoring as he notched his 32nd marker and 69th point of the season.
Blind River then went up 2-0 at 5:53 of the first period when Campbell collected his 11th tally of the campaign.
Sault Ste. Marie got on the board nine minutes later on a Joel Brandinger effort only to see Devon Savignac restore the home side’s two-goal cushion before the frame was complete.
In the second stanza, the Beavers extended their lead just over seven minutes in thanks to Christopher Mingus.
Not done there, former Eagles forward Kyle Quinn got one against his former club as he scored for a fifth consecutive contest to up the hosts edge to 5-1.
The Michigan Soo did get one back late in the second when Hayden Clark found the back of the net at 19:49.
Third period play saw neither club connect offensively before time expired.
Balkwill dished out two assists in the Beavers’ triumph.
Shots on goal finished up 52-34 in favour of Blind River with Jackson Hjelle picking up the win while Shane Brancato suffered the loss.
With the result, the 22-7-1-3 Beavers move back into first place in the league’s West Division standings, ahead of the idle 22-9-3-0 Rayside-Balfour Canadians with Blind River also holding one game in hand.
In defeat, the Eagles dipped to 17-14-1-2.
