SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016
Norskies hold off Lakers rally in 8-6 win
THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. – The Thief River Falls Norskies built up a five-goal lead entering the third period then had to withstand a furious comeback bid by the Fort Frances Lakers before eventually prevailing 8-6 Saturday in a high-scoring Superior International Junior Hockey League affair at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Mitchell Soderberg opened the scoring for the Norskies eight minutes into the contest only to see Connor Keith counter for the Lakers with a power play marker 57 seconds later.
Jack Bernie then put Fort Frances in front on the next shift only to see Tommy Stang and Jared Pederson, with his first SIJHL goal, counter for the home side to put them up 3-2 after one.
Action in the middle stanza saw Thief River Falls erupt for four unanswered tallies to go in front 7-2.
Soderberg’s second and 13th overall early in session, during a man advantage, started the barrage while Alec Daman chased Lakers’ starter Brandon Bodnar in favour Dakota Delbridge with his 10th at 8:34.
The Norskies greeted Delbridge with goals from Logan Jackson and Connor Bowey, who connected on the power play, to extend their lead.
Bodnar returned to the net for Fort Frances net to begin the third and the Lakers came out hard getting one back 58 seconds in thanks to Brandon Zajicek.
Austin Petrie and Dylan Kooner then added offensive efforts moments apart to bring the visitors to within two.
Kooner then scored again with 4:53 to go to make it a 7-6 game, but after Fort Frances pulled Bodnar in favour of an extra attacker late Parker Simonson iced it for the Norskies with an empty netter in the final minute to conclude the night’s scoring.
Keaton Huot and Reily McIntosh dished out three assists apiece for Thief River Falls in the triumph while Jared Virtanen had four helpers for the Lakers to extend a consecutive game point streak to nine in succession.
Ryan Buttazzoni picked up the win for the Norskies as Fort Frances fired 40 shots on target.
Delbridge suffered the loss in relief for the Lakers allowing two against as part of the 54 total attempts Thief River Falls had on the night.