BLIND RIVER, Ont. – A Jason Bednarski goal 6:48 into the third period proved to the game-winner as the Espanola Express earned their first Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League victory, a 3-2 triumph over the Blind River Beavers, Saturday at the Blind River Community Centre.
Espanola’s MacKenzie Aiken beat Beavers starter Maxwell Barr seven minutes into the contest to open the scoring only to see recently acquired forward Ted Davis notch his first in a Blind River jersey at 12:06.
The Express took the lead for good with the lone marker of the middle session, which came off the stick Cameron Anklewich during a man advantage opportunity at 6:38.
Bednarski then put the visitors up a pair with his second goal of the season with 13:21 remaining in regulation.
Davis brought Blind River back to within one at 13:53, but Espanola held on from there to record the win.
Riley Nadeau had a solid night for the Express earning assists on all three of his club’s goals.
Steven Khull had a pair of helpers in a losing cause for the Beavers.
Shots on goal favoured the Express by a 46-34 margin with J.P. Sabourin being credited with the win and Barr the loss.
