CROOKSTON, Minn. – The Thief River Falls Norskies picked up a hat trick and an assist from Johnny Bennis to help them skate to a 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Iron Rangers Saturday in another Superior International Junior Hockey League neutral site preseason contest at the Crookston Sports Center.
Thief River Falls scored twice in each period en route to the win.
Mitchell Soderberg put the Norskies in front 2:38 into the contest and then got the eventual game-winner from Parker Simonson just over six minutes later.
Bennis then made it 4-1 Thief River Falls after 40 minutes as he connected at even strength and then struck shorthanded in the stanza.
Zach Hayes notched the lone Iron Rangers tally seven minutes into the second frame.
After Michael Johnson made it 5-1 Norskies 5:41 into the third, Bennis capped off his three-goal, four-point night moments later to wrap things up offensively on the night.
Bo Bjorge had two assists for Thief River Falls in the triumph.
The Norskies outshot Minnesota 56-23 on the night with Tate Johnson picking up the win and Tyler Thompson the loss.
Both clubs will now gear up for the respective regular season openers with Thief River Falls visiting Fort Frances Friday at 7:30 p.m. while the Iron Rangers host Thunder Bay Saturday at 7 p.m.