HOYT LAKES, Minn. – Ethan Wong scored the lone tally in the shootout Thursday as the English River Miners rallied from a two-goal deficit to edge the Minnesota Iron Rangers 3-2 in a Superior International Junior Hockey League match-up at Hoyt Lakes Arena.
Action in the opening 20 minutes was tightly contested between the two sides as it went scoreless through one period of play.
Heading into the second stanza, Minnesota used special teams to connect twice via the power play, just over two minutes apart, in the session as Clayton Brown and Bryce Litke connected for the Iron Rangers to put them up by a pair heading into the third.
English River began their comeback midway through the frame as Kyle Rosolowski put the visitors on the board.
The Miners then forced overtime with 4:34 left in regulation when Colton Cameron collected his first SIJHL goal.
Having a lengthy power play for the majority of the five-minute OT, the Iron Rangers pressed the pace outshooting their opponents 5-0, but they could not solve English River netminder Westin Cardwell.
Cardwell also stood tall in the shootout as he stymied the Iron Rangers on all three attempts they had while Wong’s effort on his chance helped the Miners secure the second point on the night.
Minnesota held the edge in shots on net in the game 37-35 with Cardwell picking up the win and Tyler Thompson making 33 stops to help the Iron Rangers pick-up one point.