Photos: Allyson Demers
KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont. – The Blind River Beavers saw Daniel Vasic supply his third hat trick in his past four outings as part of a 5-1 victory over the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners Sunday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League matinee at Joe Mavrinac Community Complex.
An early power play helped Blind River begin the scoring 41 seconds into the contest as Vasic connected for a fourth straight match-up when he beat Kirkland Lake starter Graydon Mole with a short side wrister off the post and in from the left circle.
Up a skater once more later in the first period, Jesse Dupuis made it 2-0 for the visitors by neatly tipping in an Evan Fraccaro attempt, as he was parked in front.
On a two-man advantage to commence the middle stanza, the Beavers made it 3-0 when Vasic took a cross-ice pass from Andrei Manov and buried it at the 22-second mark.
He then notched his third of the day by whipping a shot in from the high slot at 8:49.
A fifth for the Beavers saw Vasic stopped on a bid for his fourth, but the loose puck found its was back to defenceman Adam Prax who snapped it in his second of the campaign.
Heading to the final frame, Kirkland Lake put an end to the shutout bid of the Beavers’ Noah Tegelaar in the late going when Jorick Pepin moved in from the left point and finished off a nice feed from Jonah McIndoo for his first NOJHL goal, which came during a power play with 2:53 remaining.
That proved the be the final marker if the contest as Blind River improved to 43-10-0-1 with the win.
In defeat, the Gold Miners fell to 10-37-4-2.
