SELKIRK, Man. – The Thief River Falls Norskies battled back from a two-goal deficit and went on to edge the Selkirk Steelers (MJHL) 3-2 Wednesday in a Canadian Junior Hockey League preseason contest at the Selkirk Recreation Complex.
Selkirk started strong on home ice grabbing a 2-0 lead after one period of play notching tallies 46 seconds apart courtesy of Bronson Kelly and William Middleton.
Action in the middle session saw Thief River Falls begin their comeback with Mitchell Soderberg striking twice in the stanza to knot the affair at 2-2 after 40 minutes.
The game stayed tied until the latter stages of the final frame as Michael Johnson buried the game-winner for the Norskies with 6:41 remaining in regulation to finish off the comeback triumph.
Parker Simonson chipped in with two assists in the win for Thief River Falls.
Bailey Schmitz was called upon to make 28 saves to earn the triumph for the Norskies.
Landon Poiron started for Selkirk and allowed two against in two periods of work.
Austin Deboer suffered the loss in relief giving up Johnson’s difference maker and stopped 10 others.
Thief River Falls returns to the ice Friday as they begin a two-game SIJHL neutral site exhibition set vs. the Minnesota Iron Rangers in a 7 p.m. start at the Crookston Sports Center.
They’ll also play Saturday at 7 p.m. back in Crookston.