DRYDEN, Ont. – A Carson Lux goal 2:18 into the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Dryden GM Ice Dogs edged the Thunder Bay North Stars 5-4 Wednesday night in a penalty-filled Superior International Junior Hockey League encounter at Memorial Arena.
Dryden was quick out of the gate, notching the night’s opening tally just over a minute into the contest on Trey Palermo’s ninth of the season off of assists to Brendan Jay and Matthew Pitchenese with the latter picking up a helper for a third straight game.
Thunder Bay countered with the equalizer midway through the frame as Brad Thrower converted during a man advantage opportunity for his 17th of the campaign.
North Stars defenceman Joe Newhouse helped set-up the goal to help him extend a point streak to five consecutive outings.
Action in the second stanza saw the GM Ice Dogs go back on top late in a power play chance with defenceman Cory Dennis firing one past Thunder Bay netminder Brandon Bodnar at 7:17.
Jacen Bracko of Dryden and Thrower traded man advantage markers later in the period while Evan Walls of the home side and the visitors’ Alex Maticic both notched even strength efforts in the late stages of the middle frame to make it 4-3 GM Ice Dogs after two.
Lux then supplied the eventual difference maker early in the third before Thrower finished off a hat trick with 2:50 left in regulation.
However Dryden stood firm from there the rest of the way to secure the victory.
Keigan Gerrie assisted on all three Thrower tallies and is now tied for the SIJHL rookie scoring lead with 25 points.
Landon Pavlisin made 28 stops to pick-up the win while Bodnar faced 36 shots in defeat.
The SIJHL now enters its holiday break with game action set to resume on Wednesday, January 3 with Thunder Bay visiting No. 1 Canadian Junior Hockey League-ranked Thief River Falls, English River hosting Dryden and Fort Frances entertaining Minnesota.
Photo credit: Darby Hatfield