Rayside-Balfour picks up big win vs. Blind River

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017

Rayside-Balfour picks up big win vs. Blind River

CHELMSFORD, Ont. – The Rayside-Balfour Canadians broke open a tie game by scoring the night’s final three goals to earn a 5-2 victory over the Blind River Beavers in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Saturday at Chelmsford Arena.

The visiting Beavers were the first to strike in the contest as Caleb Serre collected his 15th of the season at 2:18 of the first period.

Rayside-Balfour came back with the equalizer just past the 14-minute mark of the session when Brett Whitehead beat Blind River starter Aidan Doak for his eighth of the campaign.

Ian Robbie then put the home side up early in the second before Serre added another for the visitors at 4:35 to knot the affair at 2-2.

While up a man later in the middle stanza, Tristan Simm supplied the eventual game-winner, via the power play, as he notched his 22nd of the season at 17:06.

Dakotah Woods’ first for the Canadians added some insurance with another man advantage marker 2:22 into the third before Matthew Neault iced with a shorthanded empty netter in the latter stages of the contest to wrap things up.

The victory moves the Canadians into third place in the NOJHL’s West Division, one point ahead of the idle Soo Eagles with the two clubs both having three games remaining in the regular season.

Rayside-Balfour outshot Blind River 28-16 on the night with Cameron Lamour picking up the win and Doak the loss.