RED LAKE, Ont. – The surging Thunder Bay North Stars battled back from the two-goal deficit in the third period then went on to pull out a 4-3 victory in overtime Friday against the Red Lake Miners in Superior International Junior Hockey League action at Cochenour Arena.
Play in the first frame saw Thunder Bay notch the lone marker of the session with Keighan Gerrie finishing off a Kyle Auger feed during a man advantage opportunity 16 minutes into the contest.
Red Lake countered in the second stanza to tie it, then go in front, as Bryce Young buried his SIJHL-leading 53rd tally of the campaign at even strength before Sean Gula converted during a power play to put the hosts up by one.
It was more Miners early in the third as Keegan Tiringer’s 19th made it 3-1 at 1:56.
Countering, Thunder Bay picked up tallies 59 seconds apart from forward Brendan Gillis and defenceman Login Mihalcin to force extra time.
In the extra time, the North Stars completed their comeback as Jacob Brown and Gerrie combined to get it to Auger in the slot where he promptly buried the game-winner past Red Lake netminder Zach Willms at 1:12.
The win was Thunder Bay’s 12th in a row with goalkeeper Dougie Newhouse making 36 stops to register his 13th straight triumph.
Willms finished with 43 saves in defeat while helping the Miners salvage a point.
The two teams will meet again Saturday back in Red Lake at 7:30 p.m. 36 stops to record his
Photo credit: Patrick Boucha