THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. – Brett Piper had a goal and three assists to help the Thief River Falls Norskies defeat the Minnesota Iron Rangers 6-1 Thursday night in the Superior International Junior Hockey League 2018-19 opener held at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Thief River Falls pressed the pace in the opening 20 minutes, out shooting the Iron Rangers 19-4 in the frame, but they could not solve Minnesota starter Nick Corneliusen.
The Norskies blew it open in the second stanza however as they struck five times to take control.
Piper started the offensive barrage 58 seconds into the session before Boe Bjorge and Bryce Johnson struck in a 10-second span to make it 3-0.
Thief River Falls wasn’t done there as they tacked on two more later in the period as Alec Daman and Connor Bowey both found the back of the net.
Daman’s second of the night extended the Norskies lead 12:52 into the third before the Iron Rangers’ Lukas Lundgren dashed Bailey Schmitz’s shutout bid during a man advantage opportunity with just over five minutes remaining.
Bjorge added two assists to go with his goal for a three-point night.
Shots on goal in the contest favoured the Norskies by a 42-17 margin with Schmitz picking up the win while Corneliusen suffered the loss.
The victory was the first for new Thief River Falls bench boss Wilson Housley who was making his SIJHL head coaching debut.
Photo credit: Allison Garrigan