SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, March 18, 2017
Photo credit: Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com
English River secures 3rd spot with triumph over Thunder Bay
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The English River Miners picked up a 30-save performance from netminder Michael Lenko to help them defeat the Thunder Bay North Stars 3-1 Saturday in the Superior International Junior Hockey League’s 2016-17 regular season finale at the Fort William Gardens.
The result means English River finishes third overall in the SIJHL standings and will take on Thunder Bay in an upcoming best-of-seven semifinal series.
After a scoreless opening period, Austin Kuhn’s 20th of the campaign gave the Miners the lead 93 seconds into the middle session.
North Stars’ affiliate Garrett Gammond supplied a tremendous forecheck to set-up the tying tally as he shoveled the puck out in front to a waiting Jake Robinson, who chipped the puck over the pad of Lenko at 6:49.
However, the visitors came right back on the next shift and picked up the eventual game-winner at 7:24 from Tyrell Bourk.
Braeden Pearce supplied some insurance midway through the third to round out the scoring.
Nathaniel Dupuis faced 24 shots in defeat for Thunder Bay.
SIJHL postseason action will commence next week as the No. 4 Thief River Falls Norskies take on the No. 5 Fort Frances Lakers in a best-of-five quarter-final play-in series.
The winner there will meet the top-seeded Dryden GM Ice Dogs in the other league best-of-seven semifinal.