RED LAKE, Ont. – Leighton Holstein tallied twice, including the game-winner late in regulation, as the Red Lake Miners held off a comeback bid by the Thunder Bay North Stars before eventually prevailing with a 7-5 victory Saturday in a Superior International Junior Hockey League meeting at Cochenour Arena.
The Miners were quick to strike in this one as Hunter Halcrow’s first with the club put the home side up 1:42 into the contest.
It stayed that way until a frenzied second stanza saw six goals scored, including the final four by Red Rake.
After Jacob Anttonen and Jacob Brown connected early in the session to put Thunder Bay up 2-1, the Miners erupted for four markers in just over a seven-minute span to gain the upper hand as Spencer Milne, Holstein, Jordan Baranesky and Ryan Howe all connected in rapid succession.
Battling back in the third, the North Stars tacked on a trio of tallies to knot the affair at 5-5 thanks to a pair from Joel Willan and a single off the stick of Jayden Mrakic.
However, Holstein was there to put in the difference maker with 2:58 remaining.
Ryan Patterson then sealed the win for the Miners with an empty netter to round out the scoring.
Shots on goal finished up 46-31 in favour of Thunder Bay with Samuel Gendron recording his first SIJHL victory while Seth McKay suffered the loss.
Photo credit: Patrick Boucha