BLIND RIVER, Ont. – A Cole Kimble goal, just over three minutes into the third period, proved to be the game-winner as the Elliot Lake Red Wings skated to a 4-3 victory over the Blind River Beavers Sunday afternoon in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League play at the Blind River Community Centre.
Special teams helped the Red Wings get going offensively as they tallied twice on the power play before the contest was 12 minutes old.
Alex Antoine opened the scoring midway through the first period during a man advantage, with help from Brock McNaughton and Cameron Dial.
Then, during an extended power play, Josh Tomasi notched his initial league marker at 11:43, with Brodie Kearns Devin Shoreman picking up assists.
Blind River cut into the deficit at 18:31 on a Caleb Minns effort, only too see Elliot Lake come right back on the next shift as Silas Crawford scored 22 seconds later as his first in the NOJHL made it 3-1 after one.
Action in the second stanza was tight-checking and did not see any goals added as the guests carried their two-tally cushion into the second intermission.
Up a skater to begin the third, Blind River’s Hunter Berry clicked a mere 14 seconds in to bring the home side back to within one on his first NOJHL marker.
It was more Berry a couple shifts later as connected once more to knot the affair at 3-3.
However, Kimble’s goal less than a minute later proved to be the final one on the day.
The Red Wings’ Dial had two helpers to aid in his club’s win.
Shots on target favoured Elliot Lake by a 38-35 margin with Nolan Chartrand picking up the win, while Jeremi Delaquis suffered the narrow defeat.