BLIND RIVER, Ont. – An Alex Kidd power play goal with 15 seconds remaining in the first period proved to be the game-winner as the Blind River Beavers defeated the Espanola Express 4-1 Saturday night in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League preseason competition at the Blind River Community Centre.
The Beavers got things going offensively 11:02 of the opening frame thanks to Sean Paterson.
Espanola drew even with a man advantage marker at 18:53 of the first on a Greg Trudeau-Paquet effort.
Getting a power play of their own in the late going of the stanza Kidd fired one past Express netminder Aaron Callan to give the home side the lead for good.
Blind River then tacked on two more in the second four minutes apart to round out the night’s scoring.
Nathan Hans made it 3-1 at 11:13 while Jason Uhl added the final goal a few shifts later.
Mark Khull doled out a pair of assists to aid the winning cause for the Beavers.
Maxwell Barr finished with 25 saves to record the victory for Blind River while Callan suffered the setback as he faced 41 shots.
NOJHL preseason action concludes Sunday night at 7 p.m. as the Soo Thunderbirds host the Soo Eagles at John Rhodes Community Centre.
The league’s regular season begins Friday, Sept. 11 with all 12 member clubs in action.
