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Sangha nets OT winner, Stars capture third straight

DRYDEN, Ont. -- Thunder Bay North Stars coach Rob DeGagne says Raj Sangha is a bit like a riverboat gambler. His latest bet that paid off on Saturday night.
Anthony Kuzenko Jordan Belley
Thunder Bay's Anthony Fuzenko takes aim at Dryden Ice Dogs goaltender on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 at the Dryden Memorial Arena. (Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com

DRYDEN, Ont. -- Thunder Bay North Stars coach Rob DeGagne says Raj Sangha is a bit like a riverboat gambler.

His latest bet paid off on Saturday night.

The second-year blue-liner scored both Thunder Bay goals, including the overtime winner, to help the visiting North Stars edge the Dryden Ice Dogs in the Superior International Junior Hockey League's inaugural Truth and Reconciliation Game Saturday night at the Dryden Memorial Arena.

It was the third straight win for the North Stars (3-1-0), who took over top spot in the league with the triumph, a goaltender's battle if there's ever been on in the Junior A circut.

“It's high-risk, high reward,” said Sangha, author of four goal in four appearances early in the 2021-22 campaign.

“I enjoy the game and I love the game and that's the way I've been playing since I was a kid. (Coach) has given me the green light and he trusts me. So I've got to be accountable and come up big for him, too.”

The three-on-three format fits Sangha's game to a tee.

With a little more open space and fewer defenders to get in his way, the Calgary-born blue-liner's offensive talent is needed more than ever this season, the Stars short on depth and experience up front, a far cry from the North Star normal.

DeGagne said as long as Sangha keeps an eye on his own end he can be a real asset to the club.

“He rushes up and sometimes you get a little upset, but you know what? He scores lots of goals and he's got a knack for it and he's going to be a key for us moving forward,” DeGagne said.

Sangha opened the scoring early in the first, stepping into a shot from a few strides inside the Ice Dogs blue-line, grazing it off the cross bar, the puck dropping behind Dryden goaltender Jordan Belley, the lone goal of the opening period.

It looked like the Stars would cling to their one-goal lead through 40 minutes, but after Ice Dogs captain Cameron Ware roughed up Thunder Bay goaltender Connner Lemieux, the momentum shifted and with 12.1 seconds to go in the period and both teams down a man Kale Hancock, bashing home his own rebound to even the score 1-1 after 40 minutes.

Neither team found the back of the net in the third, thanks in part to Lemieux and Belley, who finished with 44 and 48 shots respectively.

It was simply a matter of keeping their composure in the third and into overtime.

It made things a lot easier for Lemieux in the North Stars net.

“I think I it was a good game. Our guys really bared down. We have a couple of injuries right now. We had a hell of a weekend and we're going to keep going with it,” said Lemieux, who's picked up the victory the past two nights.

“It gets tough by the end of the game, but you just have to keep your composure and keep fighting toward the end.
Sangha's overtime winner was a big relief, he added.

“Especially when overtime comes I get nervous and Raj put it in for us and we celebrated from there,” he said.

His Dryden counterpart was not as thrilled with the result, the Ice Dogs (2-1-1) picking up a point, but not the win.

“At the end of the day, it was fun. I had a blast,” Belley said.. “As a goalie I like seeing a lot of shots. I like seeing a lot of action. (They're) a good team, definitely our rivals and I think we can beat them, honestly. We've just got to do a little bit better.

FIRST PERIOD
Scoring
: 1. Thunder Bay, Sangha 3 (Foreshew) 3:44. Penalties: Mizue TB (check to head, misconduct, served by Anderson) 14:24, Earl DRY (interference) 19:33.

SECOND PERIOD
Scoring
: 2. Dryden, Hancock (unassisted) 19:47. Penalties: Rath DRY (check to head, misconduct, served by Muswagon) 1:33, Mugwason DRY (interference) 9:50, Kuzenko TB (high sticking) 17:58, Ware DRY (hooking) 19:32.

THIRD PERIOD
Scoring
:: None. Penalties: Frattinger DRY (boarding) 3:26, Kuzenko TB (high sticking) 7:10, Muswagon DRY (slashing) 9:54, McDonald DRY (tripping) 15:32, Desjardin TB (high sticking double minor) 15:51.

OVERTIME
Scoring
: 3. Thunder Bay, Sangha (Demkiw, Dittrich) 3:21. Penalties: None

GAME DATASOG – Thunder Bay 14-14-21-3-52, Dryden 13-18-9-3-43; Power plays (goals-chances) – Thunder Bay (0-7), Dryden (0-4); Goaltenders – Thunder Bay: Jordan Belley, Dryden: Conner Lemieux; A: 500.



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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