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Motivated Ice Dogs double North Stars to even SIJHL final

Forward Kris Hamlin, who scored twice for Dryden, said the team wanted to win Game 4 for their coach, who was sporting a shiner from post-game altercation after Tuesday night's Game 3.

THUNDER BAY – It’s down to a best-of-three series for the Superior International Junior Hockey League championship.

The Dryden Ice Dogs snapped a two-game slide on Wednesday night at Fort William Gardens, scoring the game’s first three goals, and hung on for a 4-2 triumph over the Thunder Bay North Stars to even their best-of-seven Bill Salonen Cup final at two games apiece.

It was a much calmer affair that Tuesday’s Game 3 that saw Thunder Bay’s Avery Siau, who allegedly punched Dryden coach Kurt Walsten in the face following the game, and Ice Dogs Carson Lux and Matthew Pitchenese suspended indefinitely for their actions.

Former North Star Kris Hamlin, who scored twice for Dryden, said the team was playing for their coach, who was sporting a nasty looking black eye and declined to be interviewed after the game, saying the team owner told him not to speak.

“All the boys were a little bit heated last night and used it as motivation. So we did our best here, did our best right off the bat and tried to keep it going through all three periods,” said Hamlin, who opened the scoring on the power play, 1:38 into the Game 4 contest.

North Stars coach Rob DeGagne acknowledged Siau, who was already serving a one-game suspension when the incident occurred, was out of line.

“All I can really say is he did something he shouldn’t have done,” DeGagne said. “So we’ll support whatever the league decides. We’re going to stand behind our player as well. You don’t do what he did by not being provoked in some way.”

The North Stars, also missing injured forwards Keighan Gerrie and Troy Sherman, struggled from the start.

Seven minutes after Hamlin beat Brandon Bodnar on a quick wrist shot from the slot, Woody Galbraith doubled the Ice Dogs lead and they took a 2-0 advantage into the second.

Malcolm Huemmert pounced on a rebound, again on the power play, with 6:11 to go in the middle frame, slamming it behind Bodnar for a three-goal lead.

“You get that first goal and it was key for us winning today and I think we rolled all four lines the rest of the game after that,” Hamlin said.

The North Stars would get one back before the period came to a close, Brendan Gillis hammering home a juicy rebound past Dryden goalie Landon Pavlisin at 16:44, the goal coming with the man advantage. Ryan Mignault, who had several chances on the night, had a fantastic one late in the second, but Pavlisin turned it aside with his toe.

He also came up short on another chance in close in the opening minute of the third, the Stars pressuring their opponent in the early portion of the period.

But it took until 17:09 of the third, with Bodnar on the bench and the Stars on a power play, for Kyle Auger to close the gap to one, firing a shot from the point that evaded traffic in front. Turner Santin had an open net and a chance to send the game to overtime with 1:20 to go, but couldn’t get his stick on the puck.

Hamlin put it away with an empty-netter, though he needed two chances to find the mesh after hitting the post on his first breakaway chance.

“That was quite embarrassing, but at least Woody (Galbraith) gave it back to me and I got to recover there and put one in,” Hamlin said.

Game 5 goes Friday night in Dryden, with Game 6 scheduled for Saturday night in Thunder Bay. Game 7, if necessary, would be played Monday in Dryden.

Notes: Thunder Bay Police say charges are pending stemming from Tuesday's incident ... The game was played in front of a season-high 1,580 fans ... The North Stars out-shot Dryden 47-35.

FIRST PERIOD
Scoring
: 1. Dryden, Hamlin 2 (Dennis) 1:38 pp. 2. Dryden, Galbraith 1 (Huemmert) 8:43. Penalties: Auger TB (high sticking) 1:11, Turbide TB (roughing) 16:54, Belisle TB (high sticking) 17:04.

SECOND PERIOD
Scoring
: 3. Dryden, Huemmert (Hamlin) 13:49 pp. 4. Thunder Bay, Gillis 6 (unassisted) 16:44 pp. Penalties: Hamlin DRY (slashing) 4:40, Mihalcin TB (cross checking) 12:13, Stout DRY (hooking) 15:46,

THIRD PERIOD
Scoring
: 5. Thunder Bay, Auger 5 (Mignault, Thrower) 17:09 pp. 6. Dryden, Hamlin (Dennis) 18:58 en. Penalties: Manning DRY (tripping) 3:24, Jay DRY (tripping) 15:47.

GAME DATASOG – Dryden 20-8-7-35, Thunder Bay 14-17-16-47; Power plays (goals-chances) – Dryden (2-4), Thunder Bay (2-4); Goaltenders – Dryden: Landon Pavlisin, Thunder Bay: Brandon Bodnar; A: 1,580.



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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