The Dryden Ice Dogs found themselves in enemy territory Tuesday evening but it didn’t falter them as they managed to take Game 3 of the SIJHL semifinals 4-3 against the defending Thunder Bay North Stars.
Dogs opened up the scoring 5 and a half minutes into the 1st period with Ryland Maier managing to find the back of the net.
Later on in the first North Stars managed to pick up a double power play, forcing the Dogs to lean heavily into their defence and fortunately for them, Thunder Bay was unable to capitalize on the advantage.
A too many men penalty which not only neutralized the advantage, also proved to be an setback as the Dogs James Hooten picked up another goal with less than five minutes left in the first.
The North Stars attempted to maintain control but Ben Hackl outwitted the defence and picked one up a goal on the power play in the dying seconds of the first period.
Thunder Bay entering the 2nd down 3-0, opted to make a goalie swap of Keenan Marks in favour of Connor Lemieux.
Much of the period would see a back and forth until just under 4 minutes left when the North Stars’ Nicolas Campbell finally puts them on the board.
However the euphoria of that goal wore off quick with 40 seconds left Hooten, puts his second past Lemieux.
A quick intermission seemed be be he thing needed charge up the North Stars, as at the top of the 3rd, 26 seconds in Colby Feist narrows the lead to 2 with a quick goal.
Feist’s goal put some pep in the step of Thunder Bay as the rebound didn’t stop there Jamie Fuchs sending it past Ice Dogs netminder Eric Clark with just 13 minutes left to go.
But despite the rally and a 2 man advantage with 1:25 left in the 3rd, following a 10 minute game misconduct picked up by Max Rath and pulling Lemieux, the North Stars fell short.
Dryden now sitting with a one game advantage as they head into Game 4 set for Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens.
Meanwhile the Kam River Fighting Walleye will take to the ice in Spooner, Wisconsin Wednesday against the Lumberjacks.
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