The Northern Hawks extended their first place lead in Thunder Bay Junior B Hockey League standings Friday by virtue of an 8-3 triumph over the second place Nipigon Elks in a contest played at Nipigon Arena.
The Hawks staked themselves to a three-goal cushion after one period of play on goals by Jeremy Yocum, Cary Brown and Nick Brimmer.
Three more tallies in the middle frame added to the lead thanks to efforts provided by Dallas Allaire, Jordy Armiento and Yocum’s second of the night.
Steven St. Jean managed to put the home side on the board in the late stages of the middle stanza firing a power play marker past Hawks’ netminder Markus Lekkari with just two seconds remaining in session.
A pair of goals by both sides accounted for the third period scoring with Brimmer and Brown striking for the Hawks while Mark Dawd and Jessie Assunmaa replying for the Elks.
Shots on net favoured the visitors by a 50-35 count with Leikkari picking up the win helping his side improve to a league-best 17-1 and move six points ahead of the Elks in the league standings.
Thomas Gratz started for Nipigon and suffered the loss, allowing four goals before giving way to Mitchell Barr midway through the match-up as the club’s overall record slipped to 14-4.
Two more games are on the Jr. B docket Saturday as the Elks host the Northern Renegades at 7:30 p.m. while the Hawks take on the Schreiber Falcons at the Tournament Centre in an 8 p.m. start.
