By Gary Moskalyk
Thunder Bay, ON – RJ Dickie scored at 1:16 of overtime as the Thunder Bay North Stars defeated the Red Lake Miners 3-2. The win puts the Stars in sole possession of fourth place, one point up on the Miners and three points back of third place Sioux Lookout.
The Stars fired 60 shots, but Miners’ goaltender Trent Boryszczuk did more than his share to keep his team in the game.
Liam Murdoch’s wrister from the high slot got Thunder Bay on the board at 4:27 of the first. His goal was the 1,000th in the SIJHL this year.
The Stars had 25 shots on Boryszczuk in the first.
Jacob Lamoureux scored the next two for Red Lake. He snapped his first over the shoulder of Conner Lemieux at 3:22 of the second to tie the game. At 0:54 of the third he collected a rebound off the boards and fired in his league-leading 26th.
Colby Feist converted a lovely pass from Edison Weeks to knot the game midway through the third.
The Stars’ Easton Glousher took a minor penalty at 18:39 of the third as the Miners threatened to win the game in regulation. Dobie Unrau took a minor for Red Lake 27 seconds later to allay those fears.
In three-on-three overtime the Stars controlled the play. Thunder Bay was able to maintain the zone after their brief powerplay and Dickie’s backhander beat Boryszczuk cleanly to set off the hometown celebration.
Feist and Dickey had goals and assists for Thunder Bay. Mason Mowat had two helpers for Red Lake.
Lemieux picked up his 11th win with a 30-save effort. Boryszczuk improved his numbers to help the Miners secure a point.
Only eight minor penalties were called–four apiece. Attendance was 355.