SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Jan. 20, 2017
Gazich the OT hero as Lakers edge North Stars
FORT FRANCES, Ont. – A Ryan Gazich goal 2:54 into overtime was the decider as the Fort Frances Lakers edged the Thunder Bay North Stars 3-2 Friday evening in a Superior International Junior Hockey League encounter at Ice for Kids Arena.
Fort Frances got off to a good start grabbing a 2-0 lead after one period of play on markers in the latter half of the frame from Jack Bernie and Ian Jarvis.
Thunder Bay pulled to within one 14 seconds into the second stanza on Brad Arabia’s 19th of the campaign.
The North Stars then forced extra time with just over 12 minutes remaining in regulation on a John Parrott effort.
Heading into OT, the Lakers would prevail with the two sides going three skaters aside with Gazich collecting his first game-winning marker of the season to end it.
Brandon Bodnar made 41 saves to record the win for Fort Frances while Nathaniel Dupuis faced 35 attempts in helping Thunder Bay pick up a point on the night.