Photos: Helene Rancourt
BLIND RIVER, Ont. – A nifty Mathieu Comeau marker in the latter stages of the third period proved to be the game-winner Saturday night as the Hearst Lumberjacks picked up a close 3-2 decision over the Blind River Beavers in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League meeting at the Blind River Community Centre.
The lone marker of the opening 20 minutes was credited to the Beavers’ Ryder Hill at 11:46 for his first of the season as he put one by Hearst’s Alexandre Boivin.
In the second stanza, the Lumberjacks drew level deep into a late man advantage that saw Theo Bourdon-Lemoyne rip a shot past Blind River goaltender Mason Janicki from the left circle at 18:17.
Heading to the third period, Hearst went on top 55 seconds in when Ty McKay left a short drop pass to Julien Trudel in the slot that he wired over the shoulder of Janicki.
With the assist, McKay now has points in seven straight games to start the season.
It was then the Beavers’ turn to tie it midway through the session as they clicked on the power play and saw Gibson Baker take a pass and zip it past the blocker of Boivin.
Breaking the deadlock with under five minutes to play, the league’s current active point leader, Comeau added to his totals when he spun in the right circle and promptly sizzled in the eventual decider.
The front-running Lumberjacks then held firm defensively the rest of the way to collect the road victory.
