SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Evan Ketner’s second goal of the game with just 21 seconds remaining in regulation was the decider as the Soo Eagles edged the Blind River Beavers 5-4 Friday night in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League contest held at Pullar Stadium.
It appeared the Eagles would have an easy time of it early on and they skated out to a 3-0 lead on tallies by Ketner along with a pair from Gord Helmuth, which included a shorthanded effort at 18:29.
Blind River battled back getting one on the power play just seconds after Helmuth’s man down marker to make it 3-1 through one period of play.
The Beavers notched another early in the middle frame on a Jason Uhl effort only to see Roman Gaudet supply his 16th for Sault Ste. Marie at 15:08.
Special teams allowed Blind River to knot the affair at 4-4 as they got back-to-back power play tallies from Sean Paterson and Ted Davis 16 seconds apart early in the third.
Then with overtime looming, Ketner won it late for the Eagles as he buried the game-winner while hitting the 20-goal plateau in the process in dramatic fashion.
Gaudet and Blake Mastaw chipped in with two assists each for the Soo while Max Khull had a pair of helpers for the Beavers.
Jack Deines made 22 saves for the Eagles to earn the win.
Martin Miloslavich faced 34 attempts in defeat for Blind River.
