HOYT LAKES, Minn. – The Red Lake Miners picked up four points apiece from Michael Di Lullo and Bryce Young to help send them on their way to an eventual 11-2 triumph over the Minnesota Iron Rangers Tuesday night at the Superior International Junior Hockey League Showcase at Hoyt Lakes Arena.
Red Lake kicked off the night’s scoring three and a half minutes into the contest as Keegan Tiringer jammed one in from close range that eluded Minnesota starter Synjen Amende, who was injured on the play gave way to Nick Corneliusen the rest of the way.
The Miners added another past the midway part of the first period with Stratton Pickett whirling in the slot and firing a low attempt that found its way in to make it 2-0.
After being held off the score sheet earlier during a two-man advantage, the Iron Rangers capitalized in the late going of the session with Garrett Wojcicki getting a couple of whacks at it before stuffing in his seventh of the campaign into the open side on Red Lake goalkeeper Zach Willms.
Action in the second frame saw Red Lake regain their two-goal cushion at 6:28 with Shaye Sommerfeld putting in the rebound off a Cole Bohnet attempt from the right point.
Bohnet then picked up his third assist of the night a couple shifts later as his attempt was redirected by Pickett to put the Miners up by three.
They kept coming and added another as Ryan Patterson’s long pass found Kyle Uzelman coming out of the penalty shot on a breakaway, who made no mistake going high on Corneliusen.
The onslaught continued from there with the SIJHL’s leading point producer Young striking shorthanded at 17:50 to put the Miners up 6-1 through two periods of play and he notched his league-best 44th goal of the season.
Spencer Milne then tacked on a pair, 33 seconds apart, with consecutive set-ups from Di Lullo in the third who finished with four assists in the victory.
Young and Tiringer each tallied again after that before Minnesota got one back late, via the power play, as Wojcicki picked up his second of the evening with help from Cam Birkeland, who also assisted on the earlier effort and Joshua Baker.
Patterson then finished things off at 19:52 to conclude the night’s scoring.
Willms finished with ?25 saves to earn the win while Corneliusen faced 58 attempts in a lengthy relief stint.
The SIJHL Showcase continues Wednesday back in Hoyt Lakes at 1 p.m. with the Thunder Bay North Stars taking on the Dryden GM Ice Dogs.
Game 2 of the day sees Red Lake taking on the Thief River Falls Norskies at 4:15 p.m. before wrapping up at 7:30 p.m. with Minnesota meeting the Fort Frances Lakers.