THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Boasting the best power play success rate in the Superior International Junior Hockey League, the Thief River Falls Norskies tacked on three more man advantage markers Saturday as they went on to defeat the Thunder Bay North Stars 6-3 at the Fort William Gardens.
The successful Thief River Falls power play made Thunder Bay pay on their first two extra man chances of the night as they skated out to a 2-0 lead before the contest was eight minutes old.
Mason McIntosh starter the scoring 4:17 in as he buried his 11th marker of the season from close range.
The Norskies then added another while up a skater when Connor Kalthoff snapped a shot from the right point that sailed past North Stars starter Seth McKay.
Moving on to the middle session, the visitors chased McKay from the net in favour of backup Jordan Smith on a Zach Ross goal from long range.
Thief River Falls wasn’t done there however as Nick Harder and Bryce Johnson connected in rapid succession to put the guests up by five.
Thunder Bay did get one back before the second stanza was complete when Jacob Brown stuffed in a loose puck off a Cody Bruchkowski attempt that hit the post.
Early in the third, the Norskies got that back as Isaac Baron sent Jonah Henderson in on Smith where he promptly buried his fifth to make it 6-1.
The North Stars did get goals from Nikolas Campbell and Alex Erwin later in the session, but Thief River Falls held on from their to complete the two-game weekend sweep over the league leaders.
Ross chipped in with three assists in the triumph for a four-point night.
The North Stars did hold the edge in shots by a 47-34 margin with Joshua Seeley picking up the win while Smith was saddled with the loss in relief.
Photo credit: Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com