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).

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

History

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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.[citation needed] 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.

The 2023-24 season Saw the Blind River Beavers capture their first regular season divisional win and the first overall league champion.

Season-by-season results

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Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Pts Results Playoffs
Nickel Centre Barons
1999–00 40 4 35 1 110 279 9 6th NOJHL
Blind River Barons
2000–01 40 6 33 1 0 121 317 13 7th NOJHL
Blind River Beavers
2001–02 42 3 39 0 0 106 414 6 7th NOJHL
2002–03 48 8 38 2 163 357 18 6th NOJHL
2003–04 48 14 31 1 2 172 266 31 7th NOJHL
2004–05 48 27 18 2 1 208 172 57 4th NOJHL Lost quarter-final
2005–06 48 13 33 0 2 140 209 28 6th NOJHL Lost quarter-final
2006–07 48 26 18 0 4 201 180 56 4th NOJHL Lost quarter-finals, 3–4 vs. Soo Thunderbirds
2007–08 50 25 20 5 189 194 74 5th NOJHL Lost quarter-finals, 2–4 vs. Sudbury Jr. Wolves
2008–09 50 25 21 4 188 182 54 5th NOJHL Won quarter-finals, 4–0 vs. Soo Eagles
Lost semi-finals, 0–4 vs. Soo Thunderbirds
2009–10 50 29 14 7 239 205 65 4th NOJHL Lost quarter-finals, 1–4 vs. Soo Eagles
2010–11 50 25 21 4 223 199 54 4th NOJHL Lost quarter-finals, 1–4 vs. Soo Eagles
2011–12 50 8 40 2 117 276 18 7th NOJHL Did not qualify
2012–13 48 13 27 2 6 178 226 34 5th NOJHL Lost quarter finals, 0–4 vs. Kirkland Lake Gold Miners
2013–14 56 10 42 0 4 127 281 24 8th NOJHL Lost quarter-finals, 1–4 vs. Soo Thunderbirds
2014–15 52 0 51 0 1 98 366 1 4th of 4, West
9th of 9, NOJHL
Lost div. semi-finals, 0–4 vs. Thunderbirds
2015–16 54 10 40 0 4 139 326 24 6th of 6, West
11th of 12, NOJHL
Did not qualify
2016–17 56 32 20 0 4 214 162 68 2nd 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
2017–18 56 33 19 0 4 195 155 70 4th 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
2018–19 56 25 24 7 201 185 57 4th 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
2019–20 56 37 15 4 223 158 78 2nd of 6, West
4th of 12, NOJHL
Postseason cancelled
2020–21 21 9 11 1 82 99 19 2nd of 5, West
3rd of 9, NOJHL
No playoffs were held
2021–22 48 25 17 6 0 151 159 56 5th of 6, West
8th of 12, NOJHL
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0-4 vs. Soo Thunderbirds
2022–23 56 42 11 4 2 244 125 89 2nd of 6, West
3rd of 12, NOJHL
Lost Div. Semifinals, 1-4 vs. Soo Thunderbirds
2023–24 56 45 12 0 1 284 148 92 1st of 6, West
1st of 12, NOJHL
Won Div. Semifinals, 4-3 vs. Espanola Paper Kings
Lost Div Semifinal 1-4 Greater Sudbury Cubs

Head coaches

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

References

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