BLIND RIVER – Shane Woolsey had a pair of goals and set-up another to help the Elliot Lake Wildcats hold on for a 6-5 victory over the Blind River Beavers Wednesday evening in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at the Blind River Community Centre.
Woolsey opened the scoring for the Wildcats 1:22 into the contest only to see Blind River’s Nathan Hans tie it just over four minutes later.
Kyle Salmon’s second of the season put the visitors back on top at 8:26 to make it a 2-1 game.
The Beavers drew level for a second time at 18:53 of the session thanks to Alex Cyrenne only to see the Wildcats’ Spencer MacLean connect on the power play just 45 seconds later.
A Robin Yew man advantage marker six minutes into the second brought Blind River back to within one, but Elliot Lake struck three times in a five and a half minute span of the sticks of Connor Scott, Woolsey and Adam Baxter to go in front 6-3 after 40 minutes.
The Beavers refused to give up in the final frame and inched closer at 7:09 of the third as Yew potted his second power play tally of the evening.
A Hans shorthanded effort with 6:28 remaining put the home side back in it, however Elliot Lake held on from there to pull out the narrow decision.
Austin Lamont picked up two assists for Blind River to aid their offensive cause.
Shots on goal favoured the Wildcats 55-32 with Allan Menary picking up the win.
Zach Mills and Braddock Baalerud both saw time in the Blind River net in defeat.