SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Friday, March 13, 2015
Iron Rangers secure second seed in SIJHL playoffs
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Needing a win to secure the No. 2 overall seed in the upcoming Superior International Junior Hockey League, the Minnesota Iron Rangers did just that as they defeated the Thunder Bay North Stars 4-2 Friday evening at the Fort William Gardens.
The victory guarantees the Iron Rangers will have home ice advantage to begin their best-of-seven semifinal vs. the No. 3 Dryden GM Ice Dogs.
Minnesota got off to a good start netting the lone tally of the first period as Drew Millis notched his 12th of the season at 3:16.
The visitors extended their cushion early in the middle stanza as Preston Kugler beat Thunder Bay starter Nathaniel Dupuis 40 seconds into the session.
Special teams allowed the Iron Rangers to go up 3-0 nine minutes into middle frame as A.J. Rupert connected on the power play.
An Evan Bennett effort in the latter stages of the period put Minnesota up by four entering the third.
Thunder Bay dashed Devin Tappenden’s shutout bid at the 4:09 mark of the period as Nicholas Nigro buried his league-leading 17th man advantage goal of the season.
The North Stars got another one via a two-man power play thanks to Brandon Wolframe with 6:30 to go.
Minnesota had a chance to put the game away 29 seconds later as Thomas Fazio was awarded a penalty shot, but his attempt was denied by the pad of Dupuis.
Thunder Bay had a number of man advantage opportunities throughout the third, but could only convert twice in the loss.
Tappenden made 31 saves to earn the decision for the Iron Rangers while Dupuis was peppered with 55 shots in defeat.