THUNDER BAY – Matthew Halushak did what a hockey captain is supposed to do – lead his team to victory.
The veteran Thunder Bay North Stars defenceman scored with just under 22 seconds remaining in overtime to deliver a third straight win for his team, a 2-1 triumph over the visiting Sioux Lookout Bombers at Fort William Gardens.
It’s a crucial win at a crucial time in the season, the Stars entering play on Monday night just three points behind third-place Sioux Lookout as the jockeying for playoff position continues, it seems, each and every night.
“We don’t really want to go to OT, because we’re a couple points behind Sioux Lookout, but it just shows the determination of this team and proves that we have a lot of grit and we know we’re never out of it,” said Halushak, who hadn’t scored in nine games, but still has nine goals on the season, third-most among SIJHL blue-liners.
The goal, coming while the teams were playing three-on-three hockey, was a thing of beauty.
Nikolas Campbell scooped up the puck and crossed into Bombers territory, spun and fired a tape-to-tape backhand pass that landed on Halushak’s stick.
He made no mistake, ripping it past Bombers goaltender Jake Manners.
“It was definitely a great pass by Soupy there and I was just happy I could put it in and get the win for the boys. But our goalie stood on his head and we’ve got to thank him for that because he played a heck of a game,” Halushak said.
The goalie in question was Conner Lemieux, playing in his third game in four nights.
The Thunder Bay native made 43 stops on the night, including huge final-minute stops on Sioux Lookout’s Blake Burke and Ty Bahm, who tied the game 40 seconds into the third, slamming the puck home while sliding in front of Lemeiux.
“He’s been big for us and we can’t thank him enough for backstopping us to three straight wins,” Halushak said.
North Stars coach Rob DeGagne said it’s good to see his team get the job done when it matters.
“What a back-and-forth game,” he said. “We took it to them, they took it to us. You could see both teams were tired, but I’m glad we got the win. Both teams played great and we found a way to win and it’s important.”
The Stars (20-16-4) were once again limited to 16 skaters, and by game’s end, were down to 14. Defenceman Sam Skillestad had to be helped off the ice in the third after he felt his knee pop as he fell to the ice. Forward Colby Feist was tossed after a second-period scrap with Sioux Lookout’s Ty Lone.
Dylan Winsor, who returned from injury on Monday, had the other North Stars goal, burying a rebound past Manners less than two minutes into the contest, played in front of 290 fans.
Thunder Bay is back on the ice at home on Wednesday night against Wisconsin, a make-up of a match postponed earlier this season by weather. The Bombers (22-15-2) host Dryden on Saturday night and, with a game in hand on Thunder Bay, lead the North Stars by two points in the standings.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Thunder Bay, Winsor (Dickie) 1:43. Penalties: Glousher TB (high sticking) 8:17.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: None. Penalties: Anton TB (roughing) 2:01, Winsor TB (tripping) 6:25, Lone SLB, Feist TB (fighting, game misconducts) 9:53.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 2. Sioux Lookout, Bahm (Trimarchi, Decoff) 0:40. Penalties: C. Burke SLB (tripping) 0:57.
OVERTIME
Scoring: 5. Thunder Bay, Haluahsk (Campbell) 4:38. Penalties: None.
GAME DATA – SOG – Sioux Lookout 9-20-12-4-45, Thunder Bay 11-8-17-3-38; Power plays (goals-chances) – Sioux Lookout (0-3), Thunder Bay (0-1); Goaltenders – Sioux Lookout: Jake Manners, Thunder Bay: Conner Lemieux; A: 290.
