THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Thunder Bay North Stars rallied from a two-goal, third period deficit to defeat the visiting English River Miners 5-4 in a shootout Saturday in Superior International Junior Hockey League action at the Fort William Gardens.
Thunder Bay opened the scoring 17:55 into the first period on a power play when Owen Belisle notched his ninth of the season to put the home side in front.
However English River got that back before the frame was finished thanks to a Jared Janke effort in the final minute.
The Miners were then quick to strike in the next period as Sam Cirone beat North Stars netminder Dougie Newhouse 35 seconds into the session for his second marker of the campaign.
Spencer Milne upped the visitors lead during a man advantage a couple of shifts later making it 3-1 before Brendan Gillis pulled Thunder Bay back to within one at 12:54.
It was more English River though as they converted during a man advantage at 16:37 thanks to Jacob Siebenga as they carried a 4-2 cushion into the third.
Starting their comeback, the North Stars moved back to within one as Gillis picked up his second of the evening at 2:37.
A late power play helped Thunder Bay tie it and force overtime when Alex Maticic connected with 2:18 remaining in regulation.
After a five-minute OT did not decide the outcome, extra shots were needed to end it.
There Maticic was the only one to score as he snapped his attempt past English River netminder Michael Lenko to end it helping the North Stars complete the comeback and extend a winning streak to six in the process.
Newhouse made 24 stops and three more in the shootout to pick-up his club’s sixth victory in a row while Lenko handled 50 attempts to help to Miners secure a point in the standings.
Joe Newhouse and Ryan Mignault chipped in with two assists apiece for Thunder Bay while Siebenga and Brody Jennings did likewise for English River.
Photo credit: Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com