Photos: Helene Rancourt
BLIND RIVER, Ont. – A Daniel Vasic marker seven minutes into the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Blind River Beavers went on to defeat the Soo Thunderbirds 4-2 for their 10th straight Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League victory, Saturday at the Blind River Community Centre.
After a scoreless opening 20 minutes, Blind River began the scoring 4:55 into the middle stanza that began with a Vasic rush, and a Matthew Campanella feed in front, that was jammed in by Jesse Dupuis.
The assist for Vasic gives him points in all 11 games he has played for the Beavers so far this season.
Tying it up past the midway portion of the proceedings, the Thunderbirds’ Kaden Dundas provided a nice slap-pass over to James Leglar parked at the top of the crease, who steered it past Blind River netminder Noah Tegelaar.
Retaking the lead late in the second, Nolan Barker’s head-man feed allowed Michael Gallagher to split the Soo defence and wire a shot past goalkeeper Kolton Bourret.
Vasic continued his torrid pace by providing his 10th tally, in the third by banking one in off the pad of Bourret from a sharp angle.
Pulling to withing one with 4:44 remaining, the T-Birds Jacob Smith supplied his 15th of the season as he snapped one in from the left of Tegelaar.
In the end though, Evan Fraccaro helped the Beavers extend their win streak into double digits as he scored into an empty net, in the final moments, to round out the scoring.
The result moves Blind River to 24-8-0-0 in the overall standings, while the Soo slips to 16-8-2-1 with the loss.
