Beavers sweep the Birds

Make it two straight wins for the upstart Blind River Beavers over the Soo Thunderbirds.

Blind River completed a two game, home and home, weekend sweep of the Soo tonight with a 6-3, home ice victory.

The Beavers had upended the Thunderbirds 4-2 on Friday in the 2020-2021, Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League regular season opener for both teams.

Newcomer Jacob Kelly, a well-traveled forward who spent parts of two seasons in the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League with the Rimouski Oceanic, paced the Beavers attack with two goals in tonight’s home ice win.

Joel Martin, Jared Dupuis, Andrew Malek and Caleb Minns also scored for Blind River while Sault Ste. Marie product Devin Mauro dished out two assists for the Beavers.

Another Sault boy, rookie goalie Gavin Disano, got the win for Blind River, making 38 saves.

“He was great for us,” Beavers coach-general manager Kyle Brick said of Disano. “He won the game for us.”

All in all, Brick told Hockey News North, he was very happy with how his team performed in the weekend sweep.

“It was a complete effort on our part,” Brick relayed. “We worked hard for the two wins.”

Will Stephenson, Ethan Novello and Cooper Smyl scored for the Soo.

FOR OPENERS

The Beavers drew first blood on the Thunderbirds with the 4-2 road decision to open the regular season.

And it was Sault Ste. Marie product Nick Jameus, a second year forward, who sparked Blind River to the season opening victory.

As Jameus had a goal and an assist to lead the Beavers, 2004 birth year defenseman Connor Toms had an impressive NOJHL debut for the Thunderbirds.

Toms, a third round pick of the Soo Greyhounds at the 2020 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft, netted a goal and an assist for the Thunderbirds.

Fellow local rookie Michael Chaffay also scored for the Thunderbirds in defeat.

Besides Jameus, Teegan Dumont, Jared Dupuis and Lucas Adams scored for Blind River in the opening game verdict.