THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. – The Red Lake Miners picked up two goals apiece from Michael Di Lullo and Bryce Young to help propel them to a 6-3 road victory over the Thief River Falls Norskies in a Superior International Junior Hockey League match-up Thursday at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Red Lake started strong in the contest as they skated out to a 2-0 lead before the game was six minutes old on markers from Ethan Stuckless and Ryan Patterson.
Bryce Johnson got one back for Thief River Falls at 14:22 of the first period, but the Miners restored their cushion late in the frame on Di Lullo’s first of the night.
A Norskies man advantage helped them move back to within one midway through the middle session as Brett Piper scored on the power play.
However, Di Lullo notched the eventual game-winner at 13:28 as the visitors carried a 4-2 lead into the third period.
In that final stanza, Young tallied twice to give him a SIJHL-leading 40 on the campaign before Matt Boren rounded out the scoring late for the home side, while up a skater, at 17:37.
Stuckless added two assists to go with his goal for a three-point night for Red Lake.
Red Lake netminder Vince Benedetto made 45 saves to record the win while Fletcher Bolda of Thief River Falls faced 30 attempts in defeat
With the result, the second place Miners improved to 24-9-1-0 on the season while the third place Norskies slipped to a 18-12-3-1 overall.
Photo credit: Tim Benton