HOYT LAKES, Minn. – The Thunder Bay North Stars stormed back from a two-goal deficit striking for six third period goals to defeat the Minnesota Iron Rangers 7-4 Sunday in a Superior International Junior Hockey League match-up at Hoyt Lakes Arena.
After a scoreless opening frame, Minnesota connected 43 seconds into the middle stanza to get on the board first as Zach Hayes notched his sixth goal of the season with assists going to Samuel Scott and Mark Sanchez.
They then went up by a pair at 12:06 of the session compliments of a Sanchez man advantage effort.
However Thunder Bay answered that a mere 24 seconds later on an Avery Siau power play goal.
The Iron Rangers got that back on Samuel Scott’s first SIJHL tally at 17:39 to put the home side up 3-1 after 40 minutes.
The North Stars began their comeback early in the final frame on an Alex Maticic effort 52 seconds into the session.
Up a man after that, the visitors tied it thanks to Ryan Mignault at 3:56.
Thunder Bay kept coming and got their first lead midway through the period on Carson Smith’s fourth of the season.
Bradley Thrower then supplied the eventual game-winner a few shifts later.
Mignault added another at 17:53 before Zach Hayes converted on a Minnesota penalty shot with a minute and a half to go.
The North Stars then finished off the comeback with 36 seconds left on a Siau empty netter to round out the scoring.
Keighan Gerrie doled out three assists to help the Thunder Bay offensive cause with Siau and Brendan Gillis adding two helpers apiece.
The North Stars outshot the Iron Rangers 57-21 with Brandon Bodnar picking up his side’s fifth win in a row while Tyler Thompson suffered the loss.