HOYT LAKES, Minn. – Thief River Falls Norskies defencemen Connor Bowey scored once and dished our four assists Friday in helping lead his team to an 8-4 triumph over the Minnesota Iron Rangers in a Superior International Junior Hockey League encounter at Hoyt Lakes Arena.
The outcome means Thief River Falls will finish third in the SIJHL regular season standings and will meet the same Minnesota side in one of the league’s first round playoff series beginning next week.
Joshua Baker got the Iron Rangers going with his 16th of the season at 9:10 of the first, only to see Alec Daman answer back for the Norskies 39 seconds later.
Minnesota regained the lead late in the opening frame as Zach Kilen knocked in his second of year at 17:14.
It was a flurry of activity in the middle stanza, with six goals being scored, including five by the visitors.
After Bryce Johnson of Thief River Falls and Elliot VanOrsdell of the Iron Rangers, with his first in the SIJHL, traded markers, the Norskies erupted for goals after that from Alec Severson, Bryce Johnson, Tyler Johnson and Brett Piper to put the guests up by three after two periods of play.
Bowey extended the cushion with a shorthanded effort 2:22 into the third.
From there, Minnesota’s Garrett Wojcicki and Jacob Schuldt of Thief River Falls added one more each for their teams to complete the scoring in the contest.
Daman and Tyler Johnson both chipped in with a trio of assists each while Joe Lech had a couple of helpers for Minnesota.
Norskies’ netminder Bailey Schmitz picked up the win while Synjen Amende suffered the setback.