RED LAKE, Ont. – The Thunder Bay North Stars roared back from a two-goal deficit by notching four unanswered tallies in the third period to pull out a 6-4 decision over the Red Lake Miners Friday in Superior International Junior Hockey League action during the opening night of a two-game first-place weekend showdown at Cochenour Arena.
Thunder Bay did open the scoring a minute and a half into the contest as Cody Bruchkowski intercepted an attempted cross-ice pass that allowed him to skate in and wire his first of the night past Red Lake starter Zach Willms.
The Miners answered right back as Spencer Milne notched a similar marker with an impressive wrist shot.
It was more Milne at 6:22 as he struck shorthanded to put the hosts up 2-1 after one.
Red Lake then chased North Stars starter Dylan Kosik, 7:17 into the middle stanza, on a Bryce Krauter effort as he extended a point streak to five straight outings.
Nikolas Campbell stuffed in a loose puck into the open side for the visitors at 11:09 only to see Ryan Howe beat Seth McKay, who had entered the game for Thunder Bay on the Krauter goal to make it 4-2 Miners after 40 minutes.
The North Stars began their comeback seven and a half minutes into the third with Adam Morgan whipping in his seventh to bring the guests to within one.
Going to the power play, Bruchkowski racked up his SIJHL-leading 55th at 14:06 while Campbell came back with the game-winner 39 seconds later to put Thunder Bay back in front for good.
Kyler Belluz capped off the road victory with a long-range empty net effort to round out the night’s scoring.
Joel Willan had two assists for Thunder Bay as did Keilan Toews for Red Lake.
Making 12 saves in relief earned McKay the win for Thunder Bay while Kosik allowed three on 16 chances in just over 27 minutes of work.
Meanwhile, Willms saw 34 shots put his way in defeat.
The top two teams in the league standings will meet again Saturday in another 7 p.m. start at Cochenour Arena.
Photo credit: Patrick Boucha