THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. – Bryce Young of the Red Lake Miners joined some exclusive company in the Superior International Junior Hockey League Saturday as he notched his 50th and 51st goals of the season in a narrow 4-3 decision over the Thief River Falls Norskies at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
With the two tallies, Young becomes just the fourth player in the 18-year history of the SIJHL to score 50 or more times in a season.
He joins Kory McEwan of the Fort William North Stars, 2005-06 (69); Chris Bryson with the Schreiber Diesels, 2006-07 (56) and Braeden Allkins of the Dryden GM Ice Dogs, 2016-17 (53), as the only others to accomplish the feat.
Young began the night by putting in his 50th at 14:56 of the first frame to put Red Lake in front during a man advantage.
Thief River Falls came back to collect the lone goal on the second stanza with Mason McIntosh notching his 11th at 12:28.
The Norskies then went in front in the first minute of the third period as Brett Piper set-up Blake Nelson for his 23rd.
After Kyle Uzelman tied it midway through the final session, Nathan Brown’s first in the league gave the home side the lead once more at 12:51.
Regrouping, Red Lake levelled the proceedings again a couple of shifts later thanks to Ryan Patterson’s 10th.
Then Young capped off his historic night by putting in his 51st of the campaign, which was the game-winner with 2:36 remaining in regulation for his second power play marker of the night, to help give the Miners the road triumph.
Michael Di Lullo dished out a pair of assists to aid the club’s cause.
Thief River Falls held the edge in shots on net but Red Lake goalkeeper Zach Willms turned in a solid 42-save effort to pick up the victory.
Norskies’ netminder Fletcher Bolda faced 22 attempts in defeat.
Photo credit: Tim Benton