SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, April 1, 2017
Photo credit: Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com
Miners’ strike 4 times in 3rd to take Game 1 vs. North Stars
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The English River Miners stormed back from a one-goal deficit in the third period by striking four times in the frame en route to a 5-3 victory over the Thunder Bay North Stars Saturday evening in Game 1 of their Superior International Junior Hockey League semifinal series at the Fort William Gardens.
Game 2 of this best-of-seven set goes Sunday at 7:30 p.m. back at the Gardens.
Thunder Bay had the best chance to open the scoring just past the three-minute mark of the contest as a dump in took a bounce off the end boards right out in front to the stick of Troy Sherman who one-timed a quick shot that was denied by the left pad of Miners’ starter Michael Lenko.
Countering, it was English River who supplied the opening tally of the series as Braeden Pearce worked the puck to Jared Janke, who in turn made a quick pass to Sidney Gladue, who fired it past Jordan Elliot in the North Stars’ net at 4:40.
The North Stars did draw level however before the session was complete as Nicolas Nigro notched his first of the playoffs at 12:21.
Moments after a two-man advantage expired, Thunder Bay capitalized while still up a man with Brendan Gillis beating Lenko to put the home side up 2-1.
Action in the final frame saw Michael Di Lullo connect twice in a four-minute span, to tie it, then put the visitors in front.
Sam Cirone then fed Gladue 26 seconds after the go ahead marker, who finished off a two-on-one.
English River’s onslaught continued at 11:56 with Jared Janke firing one high past Jordan Elliot in the Thunder Bay net to make it 5-2.
The North Stars got one back, via the power play, from Jonathon Masters, who stuffed in a loose puck from in close at 14:20 to round out the night’s scoring.
Braedan Pearce and Austin Kuhn dished out two assists apiece for the Miners while Brad Thrower had a pair of helpers for Thunder Bay.
Lenko recorded the win while Elliot was saddled with the loss.
SIJHL semifinal (Series C)
No. 2 Thunder Bay North Stars vs. No. 3 English River Miners
English River leads best-of-seven series 1-0
Game 1: English River 5 Thunder Bay 3
Game 2: Sunday, April 2 @ Thunder Bay 7:30 p.m. (Fort William Gardens)
Game 3: Wednesday, April 5 @ English River 7:30 p.m. (Cochenour Arena)
Game 4*: Thursday, April 6 @ English River 7:30 p.m. (Cochenour Arena)
Game 5*: Saturday, April 8 @ Thunder Bay 7:30 p.m. (Fort William Gardens)
Game 6*: Monday, April 10 @ English River 7:30 p.m. (Cochenour Arena)
Game 7*: Wednesday, April 12 @ Thunder Bay 7:30 p.m. (Fort William Gardens)
*-if necessary