SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL COMMUNICATIONS
MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Saturday, March 15, 2014
North Stars take game 1 of 1 vs. 2 Showdown against Lakers
Photo credit: Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – A Kris Kellaway goal with 3:39 remaining was the difference as the Thunder Bay North Stars edged the visiting Fort Frances Lakers 4-3 Saturday evening in Superior International Junior Hockey League postseason play at the Fort William Gardens.
With the victory the North Stars lead to two-game, total-goal 1 vs. 2 Showdown series heading into the finale Friday at Ice for Kids Arena in Fort Frances.
The winner will get the right to choose their semifinal opponent.
Thunder Bay’s Cary Brown notched the lone tally of the opening period as he beat Devin Tappenden at the 13:53 mark.
Fort Frances pulled even early in the second thanks to Lucas Debenedet, who scored on the power play at 1:34.
It stayed at 1-1 until 6:44 of the third when Brent Aiken put the Lakers in front as his shot eluded Eric Mann in the North Stars’ net.
The home side countered with markers 79 seconds apart courtesy of Trevor Hynnes and Brandon Mihalus to put Thunder Bay back out in front 3-2.
Aiken’s second of the evening tied it with just over five minutes to go only to see Kellaway notched the winner as his effort slipped past Tappenden for the deciding goal.
Eric Mann was stellar between the pipes for the North Stars as he finished the night with 40 saves.
Tappenden saw 23 shots in defeat for Fort Frances.
SIJHL playoff action resumes Sunday with a pair of 3 p.m. starts as the English River Miners host the Dryden Ice Dogs at Ear Falls Arena in game 2 of the best-of-seven quarter-final series while Minnesota Iron Rangers welcome the Wisconsin Wilderness to Hoyt Lakes Arena in their second contest of that series.
English River and Minnesota both won their openers Friday.
SIJHL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE (ROUND 1)
SERIES A
1 vs. 2 Showdown
No. 1 Fort Frances Lakers vs. No. 2 Thunder Bay North Stars
North Stars lead two-game, total-goal series 4-3
Winner earns the right to choose semifinal opponent
Game 1: Thunder Bay 4 Fort Frances 3
Game 2: Friday, March 21 @ Fort Frances 7:30 p.m. (Ice for Kids Arena)
SERIES B
Quarter-final
No. 3 Minnesota Iron Rangers vs. No. 6 Wisconsin Wilderness
Minnesota leads best-of-seven series 1-0
Game 1: Minnesota 5 Wisconsin 2
Game 2: Sunday, March 16 @ Minnesota 3 p.m. (Hoyt Lakes Arena)
Game 3: Wednesday, March 19 @ Wisconsin 7 p.m. (Spooner Ice House)
Game 4: Friday, March 21 @ Wisconsin 7 p.m. (Spooner Ice House)
Game 5*: Saturday, March 22 @ Minnesota 7 p.m. (Hoyt Lakes Arena)
Game 6*: Monday, March 24 @ Wisconsin 7 p.m. (Spooner Ice House)
Game 7*: Tuesday, March 25 @ Minnesota 7 p.m. (Hoyt Lakes Arena)
*-if necessary
SERIES C
Quarter-final
No. 4 English River Miners vs. No. 5 Dryden Ice Dogs
English River leads best-of-seven series 1-0
Game 1: English River 6 Dryden 2
Game 2: Sunday, March 16 @ English River 3 p.m. (Ear Falls Arena )
Game 3: Wednesday, March 19 @ Dryden 7:30 p.m. (Memorial Arena)
Game 4: Thursday, March 20 @ Dryden 7:30 p.m. (Memorial Arena)
Game 5*: Saturday, March 22 @ English River 7 p.m. (Ear Falls Arena)
Game 6*: Monday, March 24 @ Dryden 7:30 p.m. (Memorial Arena)
Game 7*: Wednesday, March 26 @ English River 7 p.m. (Ear Falls Arena)
*-if necessary