FORT FRANCES, Ont. – Connor Bowey tallied twice, including the game-winner, as the Thief River Falls Norskies went on to defeat the Fort Frances Laker 3-1 in a Superior International Junior Hockey League contest Friday at Ice for Kids Arena.
Bowey began the night’s scoring just past the 14-minute mark of the contest as his fifth of the campaign gave the guests at 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play.
Fort Frances came out quickly in the middle session to knot the score as Reece Hopfner collected the equalizer just 23 seconds into the session.
However, Bowey came back with the eventual difference maker for Thief River Falls three minutes later as the Norskies carried a 2-1 lead into the intermission.
The visitors then added some insurance midway through the third as Jake Eischen rounded out the scoring with help from Michael Crosbie and Tyler Johnson.
Boe Bjorge and Blake Nelson both dished out two assists in the triumph for Thief River Falls.
With his helpers, Bjorge now has recorded at least one point in 17 straight games.
Norskies’ netminder Fletcher Bolda made 31 saves to record the win while Jacob Gnidziejko had 28 stops in defeat for the Lakers.
The SIJHL now enters its holiday break with league action set to resume on January 4th as Thief River Falls visits the Minnesota Iron Rangers in a 7 p.m. start at Hoyt Lakes Arena.
Photo credit: Clint Bruyere