SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, March 17, 2017
Miners outlast Iron Rangers in high-scoring affair
HOYT LAKES, Minn. – The English River Miners got a hat trick and two assists from Jared Janke as well as six-goal third period to outlast the Minnesota Iron Rangers 8-6 Friday in a high-scoring Superior International Junior Hockey League affair at Hoyt Lakes Arena.
Michael Di Lullo opened the scoring for English River in the first before Cole Thompson, shorthanded, and Clayton Brown at even strength put Minnesota in front after one period of play.
Each side scored once in the middle session with Janke striking shorthanded for the Miners at 12:23 before Kenny Hasbargen put the Iron Rangers back in front four minutes later.
The wild third period saw English River erupt for five straight tallies, including a pair from Janke along with singles off the sticks of Sidney Gladue, Dante Raposo and Jamie Dreidger to put the visitors up 7-3.
Battling right back, Minnesota tacked on three of their own in the later stages of the session to make it interesting once again.
Korey Muzzy started the Iron Rangers’ outburst at 15:41 with his club’s second man-down marker of the evening.
Minnesota then saw Mark Sanchez strike twice on the power play in a 46-second span to make it a 7-6 game.
Dante Rapaso finally finished the action-packed finish with an empty netter for the Miners at 19:56 to conclude the night’s scoring.
Spencer Eschyschyn started for English River but was replaced by Michael Lenko after the second Iron Rangers’ goal.
Lenko made 21 stops to pick up his 21st win of the season while Eschyschyn handled four of six in just under 14 minutes of work.
Jackson Nelson was peppered with 56 shots in defeat for Minnesota.
With Thief River Falls also coming away victorious Friday night, the Miners will need to register at least one point Saturday in their final regular season contest at Thunder Bay should the Norskies prevail over the Iron Rangers in Hoyt Lakes.
If Minnesota defeats Thief River Falls, then English River would guarantee themselves a third place finish regardless of their outcome against the North Stars.