FORT FRANCES, Ont. – Eli Kinsman had a career single-game high five-point night Wednesday to help the Minnesota Iron Rangers defeat the Fort Frances Lakers 7-6 to kick off the 2018 portion of their Superior International Junior Hockey League schedule on a winning note at Ice for Kids Arena.
The visiting Iron Rangers opened the scoring six and a half minutes into the contest as Joel Nagy notched his first SIJHL goal as he finished off a Kinsman feed.
It was more Minnesota at 11:02 as Nagy scored once more to put the visitors up a pair.
Ian Jarvis did get one back for Fort Frances before the first period was complete.
The Iron Rangers’ Mark Sanchez tallied twice in the second stanza to put the visitors up 4-1.
Hunter Buzzi pulled the Lakers to within two late in the frame as he collected his seventh goal of the season.
The back and forth affair continued in the third with Jaedin Ness of Fort Frances and Sanchez completing a hat trick exchanging offensive efforts to make it 5-3.
The Lakers then struck two times three and a half minutes apart on goals from Anthony Antonelli on the power play and Adam Withers at even strength tying things up with 9:13 to go.
Kinsman put Minnesota back in front at 12:12 only to see Ness notch the equalizer with 16 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
After a scoreless five-minute extra session, the Iron Rangers would prevail in the shootout as Clayton Brown scored the only goal to give his side the extra point on the night.
Brown also had three assists in the victory.
Tyler Thompson faced 62 shots to earn the win for Minnesota while Brett Akins saw 34 attempts in defeat for the Lakers.
Photo credit: Clint Bruyere