SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016
Photo credit: Patrick Boucha
North Stars edge Miners after lengthy shootout
COCHENOUR, Ont. – The Thunder Bay North Stars battled back from an early three-goal deficit to eventually pull out a 5-4 lengthy shootout victory over the English River Miners in Superior International Junior Hockey League action Saturday at Cochenour Arena.
It was all Miners in the opening 20 minutes as they struck three times on efforts from Jamie Driedger, Matt O’Neill and Sidney Gladue.
Thunder Bay countered with a trio of tallies of their own in the second stanza thanks to Brendan Gillis, Brad Arabia and Joe Newhouse, via the power play at 10:22, which spelled the end of English River starter Spencer Eschyschyn’s night in favour of Michael Lenko.
The North Stars took their first lead 3:27 into the third as Brett Wolframe collected his fourth of the season.
The Miners came back to force overtime with six and a half minutes remaining in regulation as Alex McPhee notched the equalizer.
After a five-minute OT solved nothing, extra shots were needed to determine which side would pick up the additional point in the contest.
The shootout was a long one as eight players aside had chances with Wolframe and Jake Robinson, with the decider, scoring for Thunder Bay and Gladue connecting for the home side on his club’s first shot.
Jordan Elliott settled down after allowing three in the first and made 48 stops and seven more in the shootout to record the win.
Lenko suffered the setback in relief saving 19 of 20 in nearly 35 minutes of work along with six of eight in added attempts.
With the win, Thunder Bay took all three games in the weekend match-up with English River to stay three points ahead of the Dryden GM Ice Dogs in the race for first overall in the SIJHL standings.
Dryden does hold three games in hand on the North Stars and will make up one of those contests Sunday as they travel to Thief River Falls to take on the Norskies at 5 p.m. at Ralph Engelstad Arena.