SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Jackson Hjelle turned aside all 32 shots he faced to post his first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League shutout in backstopping the Blind River Beavers to a 3-0 win over the Soo Eagles Friday night at Pullar Stadium.
The NOJHL’s leading scorer, in Blind River’s Caleb Serre, notched his league-best 20th tally and 40th point of the year put his squad up 1-0 at 18:03 of the first period in what proved to be the eventual game-winning goal.
Moving on to the middle frame, the Beavers added to their lead as Serre and Juston Mauro combined to set-up David Campbell four minutes in as the guests went up by a pair.
A late man advantage in the second saw the visitors add one more when Nathan Balkwill finished off the work of Serre and Mauro at 19:24.
Hjelle did the rest, keeping Sault Ste. Marie off the score sheet the entire night in recording the shutout.
Soo starter Shane Brancato faced 33 shots against in defeat for the Eagles.
