SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Release date: Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Iron Rangers defeat North Stars to advance to semifinal
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Justin Gregory had a goal and two assists to help lead the Minnesota Iron Rangers to a 5-3 victory over the Thunder Bay North Stars Wednesday evening in the third and deciding game of their Superior International Junior Hockey League playoff series at the Fort William Gardens.
The Iron Rangers rallied after dropping the opening game to win the last two in taking the best-of-three series 2-1.
They now advance to take on the No. 1 seeded Minnesota Wilderness in one league semifinal, which gets underway Friday at Northwoods Credit Union Arena in Cloquet, Minn., at 7:30 p.m. Game 2 goes Saturday and features the same start time.
Paul Zysko gave the North Stars the early lead only to see the visitors answer with markers from Connor Nicholas and Luke Karakas to tie it and take the lead.
Adam Restoule replied for Thunder Bay to knot the score at 2-2 after 20 minutes.
Max Seiter made it 3-1 early in the second while Joey Haydock put the Iron Rangers up a pair heading into the third period.
Mathias Gardiman pulled the home side to within one with 2:13 remaining as he struck shorthanded only to see Gregory cap off his three-point night with a late man advantage effort to round out the scoring and end the North Stars season.
Chase Hollander picked up the win making 21 stops while Jayme Brattengeier faced 27 shots in a losing cause.
The SIJHL’s other semifinal begins Thursday at 8 p.m. as the Fort Frances Lakers host the Dryden Ice Dogs at Ice for Kids Arena. The second contest there goes Friday at 7:30 p.m. back in the Fort.