Photo credit: Gary Moskalyk, The Chronicle-Journal
SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, Oct. 30, 2015
Hamlin’s strikes late to lift North Stars past Miners
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – A Kris Hamlin goal off a face-off win with less than one second remaining lifted the Thunder Bay North Stars to a dramatic 5-4 victory over the English River Miners Friday evening in a Superior International Junior Hockey League match-up Friday at the Fort William Gardens.
English River took an early lead 4:17 into the contest as Landen Matechuk picked up his league-leading 23rd point of the season.
Thunder Bay countered with the equalizer at 11:48 thanks to Brendan Gillis, but Miners retook the lead with a minute and a half remaining in the opening period on a Konnar Dechaine effort.
Special teams allowed the North Stars to tie it again early in the middle frame as Avery Siau struck on the power play 49 seconds into the session.
The visitors then went back in front for a third time on Dechaine’s second of night at 3:19 to make it a 3-2 game after two.
In the third, Brad Arabia drew Thunder Bay level once again at 5:04 only to see Dechaine cap off a hat trick at 14:13 to make it 4-3 Miners.
The North Stars answered once more a minute later as Aaron Wesley-Chisel notched his first of the season to knot the affair for a fourth time.
Then with overtime looming, Hamlin won it late as he snapped a shot right off a face-off past Miners goaltenderReid Kilburn with 0.6 seconds left on the clock to pull out the surprising victory.
Thunder Bay out outshot English River 36-28 with Riley Corbin picking up the win and Kilburn the hard-luck loss.