With the snow starting to come down for a few month stay the Thief River Falls Norskies mat the cross border trip then up the 105 to face the CJHL 20th Ranked Red Lake Miners. SIJHL All – Star Bailey Schmitz would start for the Norskies while the Miners would go with Vince Benedetto in goal.
The Norskies came out with the early pressure and took the play to the Miners in the early going. Thief River would get on the board first at 9:26 when Connor Bowey finished off a nice passing play beating Benedetto for a 1-0 lead. Just seconds after killing a full 2 minute 5 on 3 the Miners would tie it as Ryan Patterson got sprung free after he got out of the box and beat Schmitz at 11:54. Thief River would get the lead back on the power play at 17:10 on a goal by Blake Nelson. Ethan Stuckless would tie it at 2 with 58 seconds left in the frame for his 6th of the year. Vince Benedetto would stop Blake Nelson on a penally shot with 25 seconds left on the clock to keep it the score tied. After 20 minutes of play the Norskies hold the edge in shots at 15-13 and the game is tied at 2.
The Miners woke up a little in the second and started to take control of the play for a little while. Some good scoring chances went to both teams before Bryce Young put the Miners ahead at 10:54. Bothe goalies held their own the rest of the period. Miners outshoot the Norskies15-9 in the period and lead 3-2 after 40 minutes.
Bryce Young’s 2nd goal of the night and league leading 29th at 3:11 would put the Miners up 2. That lead would get cut in half when Matt Boren would core his first SIJHL goal on the power play at 7:38. Alec Daman would get a chance and take advantage at 17:22 beating Benedetto to tie it up at 4. The Miners would kill of the last 20 seconds of the period shorthanded to take the guaranteed 1 point into the extra frame. Third Period shots favour the Miners 13-8.
After killing off the 1:40 to start the OT period off the Miners played some 4 on 4 until a whistle stopped the play. That would get things back to 3 on 3 play. Bryce Young would take a shot from the point and Ethan Stuckless would put the rebound past Schmitz to gibe the Miners the win at 3:05.
Miners win their 9th straight at the Cochenour Arena. Bryce Young and Ethan Stuckless had 4 points each on the night while Keilan Toews added 3 assists. Vince Benedetto won his 3rd game in a row.
With 2 goals and 2 assists Ethan Stuckless was given the Golddcorp Red Lake Mines “Hard To Play Against” Hard Hat.
Kyle Uzelman was given the yellow “Mucker” of the night hard hat.
North Star Air 3 Stars
- #6 Ethan Stuckless Red Lake Miners
- #21 Bryce Young Red Lake Miners
- #22 Connor Bowey Thief River Falls Norskies