FORT FRANCES, Ont. – Blair Lindholm’s 15th goal of the season, coming 14 minutes into the second period, proved to be the game-winner as the Thief River Falls Norskies doubled up the Fort Frances Lakers 4-2 Saturday in Superior International Junior Hockey League play at Ice for Kids Arena.
Thief River Falls started strong snagging a 2-0 lead after one period of play on markers from Parker Simonson at even strength and Logan Jackson on the power play.
James Gusulak of Fort Frances cut into the deficit 10:56 into the middle stanza, only to see Lindholm counter a couple of shifts later to provide the eventual difference maker.
That Lakers tally was the first one that Norskies netminder Bailey Schmitz allowed in over 214 minutes of game action.
Jack Bernie did bring the Lakers back to within one before the frame was complete to make it 3-2 after 40 minutes.
Affiliate Cole Allan picked up one of the assists on the play for his first SIJHL point.
The score stayed that way until the final minute of regulation where, with Fort Frances affiliate netminder Matt Booth out for an extra attacker in his SIJHL debut, saw Thief River Falls’ forward Parker Simonson chip it up the boards to Jared Pedersen, who put the game away with an empty netter.
Schmitz finished with 31 stops to record the win while Booth made 36 saves in suffering a narrow setback.
Photo credit: Clint Bruyere