NORTHERN ONTARIO JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
NOJHL NETWORK MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Sept. 9, 2016
Blind River victorious over Espanola in season opener
ESPANOLA, Ont. – Yianni Liarakos notched a hat trick while Vincent Robbins dished out four assists as the Blind River Beavers skated to a 7-3 victory over the Espanola Express in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up Friday at the Regional Recreation Complex.
Making his regular season debut behind the Blind River bench, Beavers new head coach Kyle Brick saw his charges storm out to a 3-0 lead before the game was 15 minutes old on markers by Mark Khull, Liarkos and Zak Lambrecht, with the final two tallies coming on the power play.
Espanola got one back in the final minute of the first as Express captain Cameron Anklewich collected his club’s opening marker of 2016-17.
The two sides then traded goals in the middle stanza with Liarakos notching his second of the night at 5:35 before Espanola’s Colton Sandboe countered at 11:16.
Blind River put the game away early in the third get markers 10 seconds apart courtesy of Cole Peck and Lambrecht.
Nathan Viberg’s initial NOJHL tally for the Express at 2:38 and Liarkos’ third of the evening moments later wrapped up the evening’s scoring.
Max Khull and Tyler Somers chipped in with two assists apiece for the Beavers.
Viberg helped set-up the other two markers for his side in defeat.
Earning the win in his league debut was Myles Hektor as the Blind River starter made 20 saves in earning the victory.
Shane Lippincott was saddled with the loss for the Express allowing six against on 28 attempts.
Logan Sawka meanwhile saved seven of eight in just under 15 minutes of relief.
