THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. – Isaac Baron produced a personal single-game-high five points to help lift the Thief River Falls Norskies to a 6-4 victory over the Thunder Bay North Stars Friday night in a Superior International Junior Hockey League encounter in front of nearly 800 fans at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Thief River Falls started strong as they skated out to a 2-0 lead after one period of play with tallies courtesy of Bryce Johnson’s 20th of the campaign and Jack Michels’ 27th.
Thunder Bay came out hard in the middle session to knot the affair beginning with Jacob Brown’s 29th at 1:22 while Cody Bruckkowksi notched his SIJHL-leading 49th a couple of shifts later.
The Norskies came back to regain the lead at 5:42 as Cocy Checco stuffed in the go ahead marker from close range to make it 3-2 TRF after 40 minutes.
Another quick strike in the third saw the North Stars drew level once again with Hunter Foreshew doing some nice stick work at the top of the crease at 1:45.
Thief River Falls went back in front once more though when Tyler Kiley-Ram’s long range effort beat Thunder Bay netminder Seth McKay seven and a half minutes into the stanza.
Special teams saw Baron click on the power play at 14:27 only to see Foreshew go top shelf just after that to bring the guests back to within one.
However, a late power play helped seal the home ice triumph for the Norskies as Baron bagged his second of the night by going upstairs on McKay from a sharp angle to round out the night’s scoring.
Connor Kalthoff and Tyler Johnson chipped in with two assists apiece to aid the winners’ cause while Joel Willan had a couple of helpers for Thunder Bay.
Shots on goal finished up 40-32 in favour of the North Stars, but saw Joshua Seeley get the win while McKay suffered the loss.
Photo credit: Tim Benton