Photos: Northern Exposures
ELLIOT LAKE, Ont. – A Meguire Naughton shorthanded breakaway goal with just over seven and a half minutes remaining in regulation proved to be the game-winner as the visiting Blind River Beavers went on to double up the Elliot Lake Red Wings 4-2 Sunday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League matinee at Centennial Arena.
After a scoreless opening stanza, Blind River got going offensively 12:31 into the middle session off a rush into the Elliot Lake zone where Caleb Minns put a perfect cross-ice feed over to a Ryan Doucette on the left wing, who snapped in third of the season while beating Red Wings’ starter Cameron Smith.
Countering a couple of shifts later, the home side drew level with Dayton Clarke redirecting a Teegan Dumont attempt from the point.
Late in the session though, the Beavers’ Kyle Caron scored for a third consecutive outing after Smith could not control the puck, which allowed Dakota Seaman to move behind the net and send a feed in front that was quickly banged in.
On the power play to begin the third, the Red Wings capitalized when Kaden Laverdiere put one through a screened Jeremi Delaquis with an attempt from the right point.
Down a skater later in the period, it was Blind River who capitalized as the puck hopping off the boards allowed Laughton to dart down the ice on a breakaway where he made a nice move before neatly tucking a backhand through Smith’s legs.
Then with 45 seconds to go, the Beavers’ Minns picked off a pass while the Elliot Lake goalkeeper was heading towards the bench for an extra attacker and was left with an empty net to slide the day’s final goal into to round out the scoring.
Delaquis finished the day making 38 saves to pick up the win while Smith faced 51 attempts in the setback.