GALLERY: Shulist hat trick sends Red Wings past Beavers

Photos: Northern Exposures

ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – Matthew Shulist notched his first three Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League goals Friday to help pace the Elliot Lake Red Wings to a 5-2 victory over the Blind River Beavers at Centennial Arena.

The home side got on the board first as Owen Ciavoliello did an impressive skate around the Blind River zone before ripping a shot from the right wing that beat Beavers’ starter Eric Clark nearly nine minutes into the match-up.

It was more from the Red Wings at 13:12 as Quinn Gavin-White banged in his first NOJHL goal from close range off a nice feed.

Elliot Lake then made it 3-0 just moments into a man advantage as Cole Kimble cranked one from the left side that clipped off Shulist and past a screened Clark.

Heading to the middle session, Hunter Berry got the visitors going offensively with his third tally in two nights as he lifted in a backhand off a rebound from a Jackson Barnes shot from the right point.

It was more from Blind River late in the period with Caleb Minns clicking on the power play as he one-timed a snap shot from just inside the blueline off an Ethan Pegg pass.

Third period action, saw the Red Wings go back up by a pair while up a skater with Shulist converting as he buried the rebound off a blast from the left side.

Shulist then iced it late as he won a race to an empty net with his club shorthanded as he retrieved the disk and slid in the night’s final tally to complete the hat trick and secure the home ice victory.

Nolan Chartrand made 27 saves to get the win in net for Elliot Lake while Clark saw 34 attempts fired his way in defeat.

VIDEO “Highlight of the Night” – NOJHL YouTube Channel