THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League-leading Thunder Bay North Stars stormed back from a two-goal, third period deficit by registering five unanswered tallies to help them defeat the second place Red Lake Miners 7-4 Saturday at the Fort William Gardens.
Red Lake came out quickly and went up by two before the contest was five minutes old on markers from Spencer Milne and Keegan Tiringer.
Michael Stubbs got one back late in the first for Thunder Bay to make it 2-1 after one.
After Jacob Brown drew the North Stars level early in the middle session, the Miners connected twice to go up by a pair as Bryce Young notched his SIJHL-leading 43rd before Mike Iatridis notched his initial league goal with a shot from the left point that eluded Thunder Bay starter Brock Aiken.
It was all North Stars in the third however as they struck five times to record their eighth straight win.
Stubbs made it 4-3 just 54 seconds in before a Kyle Auger unassisted effort tied things up at 4:30.
Joel Willan then banged in the eventual game-winner a couple shifts later before Ryan Mignault connected twice to reach the 35-goal plateau on the season as he completed the Thunder Bay comeback.
Aiken finished with 23 saves to pick up the win while Red Lake call-up Eric Vanska was peppered with 50 shots against in defeat.
Both clubs will now gear up for the SIJHL Showcase, Tuesday and Wednesday, in Hoyt Lakes, Minn., where all six league member clubs will be competing.
Photo credit: Rick Baraniuk