SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Monday, Feb. 20, 2017
Photo credit: Clint Bruyere
Lakers need OT to get past North Stars
FORT FRANCES, Ont. – A Brett Pickler power play goal with 56 seconds remaining in overtime lifted the Fort Frances Lakers past the Thunder Bay North Stars 3-2 Monday afternoon in a Superior International Junior Hockey League Family Day match-up at Ice for Kids Arena.
Dylan Kooner staked Fort Frances to the lead five and a half minutes into the contest as he collected his 28th of the season.
Thunder Bay countered with the equalizer at 15:01 on Tyler Minoletti’s ninth of the campaign.
After a scoreless second stanza, the North Stars went in front at 8:36 of the third when Jake Robinson notched his 13th tally of 2016-17.
The Lakers would force extra time with just over five minutes remaining in regulation with Julian Uhryniuk tying it for the home side.
Then in OT, with Fort Frances up a man, Pickler picked up his second straight game-winning goal to give his side the victory and the second point on the afternoon.
Jared Virtanen dished out two assists for the Lakers in the triumph, including one on the decider.
Jessie Heisz made 32 stops to record the win for Fort Frances while Jordan Elliot helped the visitors salvage a point as he was peppered with 49 shots against in the OT defeat.
The same two teams will meet again Tuesday in a 7:30 p.m. start at the Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay.