SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, March 18, 2017
Norskies edge Iron Rangers in OT
HOYT LAKES, Minn. – A Blair Lindholm goal 3:34 into overtime allowed the Thief River Falls Norskies to hold off a comeback bid by the Minnesota Iron Rangers as they pulled out a 6-5 victory in Superior International Junior Hockey League play Saturday at Hoyt Lakes Arena.
Each side would score twice in the opening 20 minutes with Connor Smith and Cody Aarvig connecting for Thief River Falls while Mark Sanchez and Clayton Brown countered for Minnesota.
After the Norskies’ Jack Dunnell and the Iron Rangers’ Eli Kinsman traded tallies in the second period, the visitors tacked on a pair of later markers in the session from Aarvig and Michael Johnson to go up 5-3.
Battling back, Minnesota forced extra time thanks to goals from Sanchez and Sheamus Stoyle in the third.
However, in OT Lindholm potted the game-winner for Thief River Falls to secure the road win.
Smith added two assists for a three-point night and Jack Stensgard had a trio of helpers for the home side.
Sam Novak made 24 saves to register the decision for the Norskies while Sean Angle was peppered with 61 shots in the season-ending defeat for the Iron Rangers.
Thief River Falls will now advance to the first round of the Bill Salonen Cup playoffs as they’ll take on the Fort Frances Lakers in a best-of-five quarter-final play-in series beginning next week.