SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016
Photo credit: Gary Moskalyk, The Chroncicle-Journal
Nigro’s 4-point night leads North Stars over Norskies
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Nicholas Nigro scored twice and helped set-up two others to lead the Thunder Bay North Stars to a 6-3 triumph over the Thief River Falls Norskies Saturday in Superior International Junior Hockey League play at the Fort William Gardens.
Making their first-ever visit to Thunder Bay, Thief River Falls found themselves down 3-0 after one period on a pair of Nigro markers, which were sandwiched around another from Kris Hamlin.
Brad Arabia then made it 4-0 North Stars 5:40 into the middle session as the home side looked like they had the game in control.
However the Norskies battled back getting goals from Connor Smith, on the power play, and Blair Lindholm’s initial SIJHL tally just over two minutes apart to pull the visitors within a pair.
Regrouping, Thunder Bay added another before the stanza was complete on a Brett Wolframe effort as they went up by three heading into the third.
In the final frame, Jesse Talakoski’s fourth of the year supplied some insurance for the North Stars before Smith added another man advantage marker late for the visitors to round out the night’s scoring.
Dating back to last season, Nigro now has points in 13 consecutive games and currently leads the SIJHL in scoring with 23 points in 11 outings on 13 goals and 10 assists.
Ryan Walsh had a pair of assists for the Thunder Bay.
Jordan Elliott stopped 24 of 27 attempts he faced to record his first league victory.
Ryan Buttazzoni saw 44 shots fired his way in defeat for Thief River Falls.
The same two teams meet again Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Gardens.