GALLERY: Blind River rallies to defeat Espanola

NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE

NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE

Release Date: Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017

Blind River rallies to defeat Espanola

BLIND RIVER, Ont. – The Blind River Beavers got a hat trick from forward Max Khull to help them rally from an early deficit and defeat the Espanola Express 7-3 Sunday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up Sunday at the Blind River Community Centre.

Action in the opening 20 minutes saw the visiting Express take the lead as they tallied twice in just over a two-minute span on markers from Jason Bednarski and Aaron Roschinsky.

Blind River battled back in the middle stanza to go on top 3-2 after two periods of play thanks to Anthony Pullicino on the power play along with Ryder Prue’s first NOJHL goal and Khull at even strength.

Khull collected his second of the contest, 20th overall and eventual game-winner 5:46 into the third during a man advantage to put the home team up by two.

Jordan Kreller and Khull supplied later extra man efforts before the frame was half done to put the Beavers in full control.

Mark Bastianello’s 15th added to the Blind River cushion at 17:40 before Espanola’s Jacob May’s initial league effort in the late going rounded out the scoring.

Zac Lambrecht had three assists and Yianni Liarakos chipped in with two for the Beavers in the triumph.

Aidan Doak made 25 saves in net for Blind River to record the win while Myles Hektor had one stop in a 10-minute first period relief stint.

Logan Sawka started for Espanola and handled 35 of the 38 shots before giving way to Mitchell Jacobson, who suffered the loss allowing four against on 17 attempts.