Beavers stun Skyhawks (updated)

The North Bay Skyhawks forward Josh Diamond (right) takes a first period face-off. Photo by Chris Dawson.
Game Story by Courtney Heels

In a game that appeared to look good for the North Bay Skyhawks, the Blind River Beavers took over and won Friday’s game 4-3. With players out on injury, including Captain Justin Piquette, the Skyhawks hoped to play hard and win even without their full roster. Although Memorial Gardens filled the seats with over 1500 hopeful fans; most Skyhawks supporters left discouraged.

The Skyhawks scored the first goal of the game with a wraparound by AJ Shiverdecker, assisted by Justin Roy at 4:46 into the first. North Bay used the goal as fire to get them going, and less than two minutes later on a powerplay Jon Drake blasted a shot off a face-off underneath the arm of former Trappers netminder Andre Laperriere to give the locals a 2-0 lead less than seven minutes into the game.

The Beavers rebounded from their 2-0 status on the powerplay as Matt Irving rifled a slapshot past a bewildered Lalande to cut the Skyhawks lead in half.

The second period started out slow. The first ten minutes seemed used mainly to dance the puck between teams, and give each a (unused) power play. Skyhawks goalie Mike Lalande of the Skyhawks really stepped up in the middle frame, making some solid glove saves and blocking shots.

A Matt Bell interference call led to the Beavers second powerplay goal as Jason Bird evened the score at 2-2.

The game generated more aggressiveness from players as Blind River forward David Jarick gave himself an extended break from the game taking a late roughing penalty along with a 10 minute misconduct.

Alex Durinka gave the Beavers the lead for the first time early in the third period. The Skyhawks responded on the powerplay as Jon Drake won’t score an easier goal as he lofted the puck into an empty net as Beavers goaltender appeared to be knocked over by a Skyhawks forward and a pair of his own defenceman leaving a wide open cage for Drake to fill.

The final goal for the game came with less then 6 minutes left, scored by the Beavers Jeremy Hillard. The Skyhawks had a chance to tie it up once again, with a 4 minute power play from a roughing call to the Beavers, but they failed to deliver. In the 4 minute powerplay, the Skyhawks failed to even get one shot on net.

Beavers goalie Andre Laperierre played his best junior hockey game in his hometown. The second year Beavers goalie turned away 33 shots in the game including some key stops in the third period.

The Beavers beat the Skyhawks 4-3 in a close but disappointing loss.

Skyhawks head coach Darren Turcotte believes the early lead did more harm than good.

“I thought they (the team) was ready to go, when we got up to a two nothing lead they thought it was going to be easy. The bottom line is Blind River played well in the second period,” said Turcotte.

This coming Wednesday, the Skyhawks will take on the first place Sudbury Junior Wolves whom they’ve yet to beat this season. Turcotte knows his club needs to be better if they want a chance against the defending NOJHL champs.

“We just need to get back to work; we gave the guys a few days off earlier in the week, usually if you give them one day off, its takes a few to recover. Maybe we gave them one to many.”

The next home game the Skyhawks play is November 12th against the Soo Indians, who will be making their first appearance in North Bay this season.