THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Thunder Bay North Stars broke a 2-2 deadlock with three unanswered third period tallies to help them skate to a 5-2 victory over the Thief River Falls Norskies Friday night in Superior International Junior Hockey League action at the Fort William Gardens
Mason McIntosh did give Thief River Falls the early lead, seven minutes into the contest, only to see Robert Tyska tie it for Thunder Bay a couple shifts later.
The Norskies then retook the lead late in the first period on Tate Steffan’s 10th of the season.
The lead held up until 12:13 of the middle stanza when Avery Siau notched the equalizer for the North Stars.
Thunder Bay went in front for the first time, 2:09 in the third, as Keighan Gerrie’s 25th goal of the campaign proved to be the game-winner.
Evan Nicholas added some insurance a minute and a half later before Michael Stubbs added another 64 seconds later to round out the night’s scoring.
Dougie Newhouse made 35 saves to record the win in net for the North Stars who became the first SIJHL side to reach the 50-point plateau on the season.
Meanwhile Thief River Falls netminder Bailey Schmitz suffered the loss allowing the five against on 42 attempts while Fletcher Bolda handled all five shots he faced in over 15 minutes of third period relief.
The North Stars also kept the Norskies’ Boe Bjorge off the score sheet in the triumph thus snapping an impressive 19-game point streak the Thief River Falls forward had on the go.
Photo credit: Rick Baraniuk