NEWS RELEASE
NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
*************************
A two-goal night from Jack Kruiderink lifted the Blind River Beavers to a narrow 3-2 victory over the Soo Thunderbirds Friday in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at John Rhodes Community Centre.
A fast-paced opening 20 minutes did not produce a goal as the clubs went to their respective dressing rooms for the first intermission, still knotted at 0-0.
In the second stanza, Blind River received a gift to begin the scoring as a Sault Ste. Marie player inadvertently sent the puck back past a teammate and into his own vacant net from centre ice on a delayed penalty, while Thunderbirds’ goalkeeper Noah Metiver was on the bench for an extra attacker.
Jacob Beemer was credited with the goal as he was the last Beavers’ skater to touch the puck.
Going to the power play though, the Soo drew level thanks to Aiden Atkinson at 5:41 as he cranked a one-timer from the right circle past netminder Bronx Bodnar, after being teed up by Jake McPherson.
Connecting while up a skater late in the session, Blind River retook the lead compliments of Kruiderink, who wired an attempt off the post and in after a face-off win.
Heading to the third, the Thunderbirds tied it again thanks to Camden Cowan jamming in a rebound off a McPherson point attempt.
Getting a go ahead marker at 8:18, Kruiderink notched the eventual decider by firing a chance from the right side that looked to clip off a defender and slide past Metivier.
The Soo got their goalie out late for and extra attacker, but the visitors held firm defensively to collect the road win.
With the outcome, the Beavers improved to 20-9-1-1 on the season, and in defeat the Thunderbirds fell to 13-16-1-1.
*************************