SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016
Photo credit: Gary Moskalyk, The Chronicle-Journal
North Stars tie it late then edge Miners in lengthy shootout
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – A Joe Newhouse goal in the ninth round of the shootout was the difference as the Thunder Bay North Stars edged the English River Miners 4-3 Saturday in a tightly-contested Superior International Junior Hockey League match-up at the Fort William Gardens.
English River took a 1-0 lead after one period of play on a Matt O’Neill effort at 6:28.
Action in the second stanza saw Brad Arabia tie things up for Thunder Bay only to see the Miners’ Michael Di Lullo put the visitors back in front with a power play marker at 13:22.
Early in the third Jonathon Masters collected his first North Stars marker at 1:25 to knot the affair at 2-2.
Once again however English River regained the lead on Sidney Gladue’s 13th with just over three minutes remaining in regulation.
Then with a late power play, Thunder Bay forced overtime in dramatic fashion as Brad Thrower buried the equalizer with two seconds to go to keep the game going.
After a scoreless five-minute OT, extra shots were required to determine a winner.
In the shootout, both goaltenders stood tall stopping the first 14 shots they faced with the North Stars Jordan Elliot and the Miners’ Michael Lenko saving seven attempts apiece.
Round 8 saw Nash Dabb of English River and Troy Sherman of Thunder Bay both convert on their chances as the game carried on.
Then Newhouse won it for the North Stars on his team’s nine opportunity in the shootout to give them the second point on the night.
Elliot made 36 stops in 65 minutes of work along with eight of nine in the shootout to pick up the win for Thunder Bay while Lenko 28 of 31 and seven of nine in extra attempts for the Miners in defeat.