Saturday sees Blind River, Elliot Lake and Kirkland Lake come away victorious

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Saturday, Jan. 18, 2014

Saturday sees Blind River, Elliot Lake and Kirkland Lake come away victorious

SUDBURY – Saturday night in the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League saw three games played with the Blind River Beavers rallying to defeat the Abitibi Eskimos, Elliot Lake build an early lead to beat Espanola while Kirkland Lake tamed North Bay.

BLIND RIVER BEAVERS 6 ABITIBI ESKIMOS 4 – Blind River stormed back from a two-goal second period deficit to pull out a come from behind victory over the Eskimos at Jus Jordan Arena.

After Abitibi’s Erik Robichaud and Blind River’s Jacob Zarzycki exchanged early tallies the Eskimos got efforts from Marc Dube and Robichaud to go up a pair after 20 minutes.

It was all Beavers in the middle session however as they struck three times to take the lead on a pair of markers by Tyson MacLeod and a solo effort by Luke MacDonald to go up 4-3.

Blind River blueliner Scott Marshall put his side ahead by two with 3:50 remaining, but Robichaud finished off a hat-trick a minute and a half later to make it interesting.

However Matthew Neault struck shorthanded in the final minute to ice it for the Beavers.

Neault and Zarzycki both finished up with three-point nights for Blind River as did Brady Clouthier for Abitibi, who had a trio of assists.

Dylan Knox was the winning goaltender making 33 saves with Sylvain Miron seeing 35 shots in a losing cause.

ELLIOT LAKE BOBCATS 6 ESPANOLA RIVERMEN 3 – The hometown Bobcats rode the strength of a five-goal first period en route to the triumph over the Rivermen at Centennial Arena.

Dustin Cordeiro put Elliot Lake on the board in the first minute of the contest only to see Corbin Bean knot the affair moments later via the power play.

The Bobcats then erupted for four tallies in the final half of the opening session to take control.

Jason Berube tallied twice to get Elliot Lake rolling while Torrin Grange and Aaron Carmichael supplied singles.

Each side then had one marker apiece in second stanza to make it 6-2 after 40 minutes with Andrew Plomer connecting for Espanola and Jacob Erwin countering for the Bobcats.

After Connor Gilmartin struck shorthanded for the Rivermen early in the third, Cordeiro buried his second of the evening at 4:39 to round out the scoring.

Bryan McFarlane dished out three assists for the winners with Jared Walker adding a couple of helpers of his own. Brad Edward also set-up a pair for the Rivermen.

Alex Bitsakis picked up the victory between the pipes for the Bobcats finishing with 36 stops.

Espanola’s Brennen Dubchak did pick-up an assist on Bean’s goal in the loss to extend a consecutive game point streak to 20.

William King started for Espanola and suffered the loss making 34 saves on 39 shots while Marc Terriault gave up two against in six attempts in 10 minutes of relief in the first period.

KIRKLAND LAKE GOLD MINERS 6 NORTH BAY TRAPPERS 1 – The friendly confines of the Joe Mavrinac Community Complex in Kirkland Lake saw Samuel Wilbur score twice and dole out a pair of assists to pace the Gold Miners past North Bay.

Each team had goals in the opening period with Zach Pease getting Kirkland Lake going early while Howard Yawit connected shorthanded later in the stanza for the Trappers.

Tacking on four more markers in the second session put Kirkland Lake well in control.

Wilbur had two of the tallies while Steven Babin and Ethan Strong notched singles.

Jeremy Picard-Fiset added a third period power play effort to round out the scoring.

Kenny Fitzgerald only had to make 12 saves to pick-up the win for Kirkland Lake.

Evan Cormier started for North Bay and suffered the loss giving up five against in 17 attempts.

Lucas Paulsen only gave up one in just over 21 minutes of relief.

NOJHL play resumes Monday as Abitibi travels to North Bay to take on the Trappers at 7 p.m.