By Tanner Schafer
The Dryden GM Ice Dogs won their first game in the new calendar year by securing a home victory over the North Stars of Thunder Bay. The North Stars were playing their second game of the weekend after defeating Red Lake the night before. It was tightly contested battle with the Ice Dogs winning in overtime 4-3
The first period was relatively quiet with Matthew Halushak scoring the lone goal of the period on the powerplay with just under a minute and a half remaining. The marker would be the lone power play goal for the North Stars despite getting 10 chances over the course of the game.
4 minutes into the second period Dryden would find their way on the scoreboard as Brady Frattinger picked up his 6th goal of the season with assists going to Landen Stromme and Jordan Pfoh. 8 minutes later the Ice Dogs would take their first lead as Bryce Benfield scored a goal assisted by Jordan Pfoh and Easton Debray. The North Stars would answer back in the 2nd as EJ Paddington found the back of the net with the help of Easton Gloucher taking the game into the break even at 2.
It was Paddington again in the 3rd period scoring to give Thunder Bay a 3-2 lead halfway through the frame. Liam Murdoch and Noah Broughton picked up assists on the goal. The Final tally of regulation came on the powerplay for Dryden as Max Roby sent a shot into the net with assists going to Benfield and Debray. The North Stars would doom themselves heading into overtime receiving 2 game misconducts in the last minute of relegation, setting up Dryden with a 5 on 3 in OT.
The Ice Dogs would secure the winner on the 2 man advantage as Jordan Pfoh found the back of the net for his 3rd point of the net. Stromme and Frattinger picked up the 2 assists on the game winner.
Dryden scored on 2 of their 7 powerplay chances while Thunder Bay converted on just 1 of 10. It was a rough game with a total of 91 penalty minutes and multiple ejections.
402 fans packed into the arena to watch the game, and it has been announced that Saturday’s contest between the 2 clubs has been postponed.