SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014
North Stars edge Iron Rangers 2-1
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – Matthias Gardiman’s second goal of the game, on the power play with 5:48 remaining, proved to be the difference as the Thunder Bay North Stars edged the visiting Minnesota Iron Rangers 2-1 Wednesday evening in a hard-fought Superior International Junior Hockey League encounter at the Fort William Gardens.
The home side would notch the night’s opening tally near the five-minute mark of the first period as Gardiman buried his fifth of the season while also extending a season-high consecutive game point streak to 11 straight outings.
Following a scoreless middle stanza, Minnesota would notch the equalizer early in the third as Noah Anderson struck on the power play at 1:57.
With his side holding a man advantage opportunity, Gardiman then supplied the game-winner on a splendid individual effort as he picked up a loose puck deep in his own territory that was set-up by Thunder Bay netminder Eric Mann, as the Stars’ forward darted up the right side and snapped home the difference maker over outstretched pad of Minnesota’s Kyle Carignan.
Mann was impressive in the North Stars net making 41 saves to record the win helping his side improve to 7-4 on the season.
Carignan made 27 stops in defeat as the Iron Rangers slipped to 6-3-0-1 overall.
SIJHL action continues Friday on two fronts as Thunder Bay heads to Ear Falls to take on the English River Miners while Minnesota hosts the Fort Frances Lakers in a pair of 7 p.m. starts.