GALLERY: Dyer dynamic as Rapids blank Paper Kings

Photos: Sudbury Light Event Photography

SUDBURY, Ont. – French River Rapids goalkeeper Brady Dyer was flawless, stopping everything fired his way Tuesday, in blanking the Espanola Paper Kings 4-0 Tuesday in the opening game of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Showcase at Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex.

A French River power play 8:21 into the contest helped the Rapids get on the board when Josh Russell sent a perfect cross-ice pass right to Abram Snider, who whipped in his first of the campaign, before Espanola starter Andrew Gaulton could get across his crease to keep it out.

Building on that, French River tacked on another a couple of shifts later as Carson Laronde snagged a loose puck on the right side boards, as he too made a crisp feed across, that left Russell plenty of net to deposit his fourth of the season off a three-on-one.

Adding to their edge early in the second stanza, the Rapids broke up a chance in their own zone then sent Alexandre Dubuc in all alone on a breakaway where he skated left, but flipped the puck back high to his right, into the top corner, to make it 3-0 a minute and a half in.

Moving to the final frame, the Paper Kings had a tremendous opportunity to get back in it with a lengthy two-man advantage, however French River was resilient in keeping their opponents at bay.

Capping off the victory in the final minute, Jordan Bax slammed one in during a late power play from the left of the crease to round out the scoring.

The triumph and shutout for Dyer were his initial one, in each category, in the NOJHL as the Rapids extended a modest winning streak to two with the result while Espanola dropped a third straight outing.