SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Sunday, April 3, 2016
Photo credit: Michael Christianson, Dryden Observer
Strong 2nd sends Dryden past Thunder Bay in Game 2
DRYDEN, Ont. – The Dryden GM Ice Dogs broke open a close game by scoring five times in the second period to power them to a 6-3 triumph over the Thunder Bay North Stars in Game 2 of their Superior International Junior Hockey League semifinal Sunday evening at Memorial Arena.
With the win, the GM Ice Dogs now lead the best-of-seven series 2-0 heading into Games 3 & 4 Thursday and Friday in Thunder Bay in a pair of 7:30 p.m. starts at the Fort William Gardens.
Thunder Bay took a 1-0 lead after one period of play on Landon Letwin’s first playoff marker at 5:14.
Dryden was quick to tie things up in the middle stanza however as Nathan Avery knotted the affair in the first minute of the session.
The GM Ice Dogs came right back with another as Kent Walchuk struck shorthanded at 2:29.
After Derek McPhail made it 3-1 at 8:33, Dryden chased North Stars starter Riely Corbin 30 seconds later on a Braden Allkins effort.
With Eric Mann entering in place of Corbin, Thunder Bay gained a little momentum on the change at 11:32 as Brendan Gillis notched his opening goal of the series.
However Allkins countered with a man advantage marker less than a minute later as the home side took a 5-2 cushion into the third.
In the final frame, Nicholas Nigro’s third of the playoffs brought the visitors closer only to see Dryden’s Nic Noseworthy ice it in the final seconds to round out the scoring with an empty netter.
Walchuk also had two assists to go along with his tally for a three-point night.
Shots on net favoured the GM Ice Dogs 30-23 with Taylor Unruh picking up the win while Corbin suffered the loss and Mann mstopping 14 of 15 in nearly 30 minutes of relief.
SIJHL semifinal schedule (Series C)
No. 2 Dryden GM Ice Dogs vs. No. 3 Thunder Bay North Stars
Dryden leads best-of-seven series 2-0
Game 1: Dryden 3 Thunder Bay 2
Game 2: Dryden 6 Thunder Bay 3
Game 3: Thursday, April 7 @ Thunder Bay 7:30 p.m. (Gardens)
Game 4: Friday, April 8 @ Thunder Bay 7:30 p.m. (Gardens)
Game 5*: Sunday, April 10 @ Dryden 3 p.m. (Memorial)
Game 6*: Tuesday, April 12 @ Thunder Bay 7:30 p.m. (Gardens)
Game 7*: Friday, April 15 @ Dryden 7:30 p.m. (Memorial)
*- if necessary