Blind River Beavers
CityBlind River, Ontario, Canada
LeagueNorthern Ontario Junior Hockey League
DivisionWestern
Founded1965
Home arenaBlind River Community Centre
ColoursBlack, red, and white
     
General managerKyle Brick[1]
Head coachKyle Brick
Franchise history
1965–1997Elliot Lake Vikings
1997–1999Elliot Lake Ice
1999–2000Nickel Centre Baron
2000–2001Blind River Barons
2001–presentBlind River Beavers

The Blind River Beavers are a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Blind River, Ontario, Canada. They are a part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL).

History

The Blind River Beavers had a long history in the International Junior B Hockey League. In 2000, Junior A hockey was brought to Blind River as the Blind River Barons when the franchise moved from Nickel Centre. The team re-branded to the Blind River Beavers in fall 2001. The team has finished as high as fourth on a few occasions and made the playoffs but have failed to advance to the second round as of 2016.

The Beavers introduced a new logo at the start of the 2014–15 season. During that season, the Blind River Beavers set Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League records for fewest wins and points in a season as they went 0–51–1 during the regular season. The previous records were held by the 1991–92 Elliot Lake Vikings, who went 1–47–0 for 2 points. They also failed to win a game during their first round playoff series with the Soo Thunderbirds, losing that series 4-games-to-0.

The team showed improvement during the 2015–16, improving their record to 10–40–0–4, but not enough to make the playoffs as the Beavers finished three points behind Espanola for the final playoff spot in the West Division. The Beavers were led offensively by Max Khull, who had a team high 38 points.

At the end of the season, the Beavers hired Soo Thunderbirds assistant Kyle Brick to be their new head coach and named Dennis Lawrence as their general manager. They also hired several new scouts from the Thunderbirds as they had recently changed ownership. The 2016–17 season saw the Beavers earn their first winning record since 2010–11. Blind River improved to 32–20–4–0 finishing 20 points behind the Thunderbirds and were second in the division. After the regular season, the Beavers beat the Rayside-Balfour Canadians in the quarterfinals in seven games followed by beating the Soo Eagles in five games leading to their first finals appearance, which they were swept by the Powassan Voodoos in four games.

Season-by-season results

SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPtsResultsPlayoffs
Nickel Centre Barons
1999–0040435111027996th NOJHL
Blind River Barons
2000–014063310121317137th NOJHL
Blind River Beavers
2001–02423390010641467th NOJHL
2002–03488382163357186th NOJHL
2003–0448143112172266317th NOJHL
2004–0548271821208172574th NOJHLLost quarter-final
2005–0648133302140209286th NOJHLLost quarter-final
2006–0748261804201180564th NOJHLLost quarter-finals, 3–4 vs. Soo Thunderbirds
2007–085025205189194745th NOJHLLost quarter-finals, 2–4 vs. Sudbury Jr. Wolves
2008–095025214188182545th NOJHLWon quarter-finals, 4–0 vs. Soo Eagles
Lost semi-finals, 0–4 vs. Soo Thunderbirds
2009–105029147239205654th NOJHLLost quarter-finals, 1–4 vs. Soo Eagles
2010–115025214223199544th NOJHLLost quarter-finals, 1–4 vs. Soo Eagles
2011–12508402117276187th NOJHLDid not qualify
2012–1348132726178226345th NOJHLLost quarter finals, 0–4 vs. Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
2013–1456104204127281248th NOJHLLost quarter-finals, 1–4 vs. Soo Thunderbirds
2014–1552051019836614th of 4, West
9th of 9, NOJHL
Lost div. semi-finals, 0–4 vs. Thunderbirds
2015–1654104004139326246th of 6, West
11th of 12, NOJHL
Did not qualify
2016–1756322004214162682nd of 6, West
5th of 12, NOJHL
Won Div. Semifinals, 4–3 vs. Rayside-Balfour Canadians
Won Div. Finals, 4–1 vs. Soo Eagles
Lost League Finals, 0–4 vs. Powassan Voodoos
2017–1856331904195155704th of 6, West
6th of 12, NOJHL
Won Div. Play-in series, 2–0 vs. Elliot Lake Wildcats
Lost div. semi-finals, 2–4 vs. Rayside-Balfour Canadians
2018–195625247201185574th of 6, West
9th of 12, NOJHL
Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Elliot Lake Wildcats
Lost div. semi-finals, 2–4 vs. Soo Thunderbirds
2019–205637154223158782nd of 6, West
4th of 12, NOJHL
Postseason cancelled
2020–212191118299192nd of 5, West
3rd of 9, NOJHL
No playoffs were held

Head coaches

  • Kyle Brick (2016–present)
  • Brad Barton (2015–16)
  • Bart Jarrett
  • Don Gagnon
  • Angelo Gallo
  • Todd Stencill
  • Doug McEwen
  • Jim Capy
  • Al Monforth

References

  1. "Hockey Operations". Blind River Beavers. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
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