THUNDER BAY – The Dryden Ice Dogs came up big when it mattered most.
Max Roby scored the game-winner on Tuesday night with 3:03 to go in regulation and Landen Stromme added an empty netter in the final minute of play to earn the Ice Dogs a 5-3 win over the Thunder Bay North Stars in front of 310 fans at Fort William Gardens.
It was Stromme’s second of the night and 14th of the season.
Kaden Bandura and Ben Hackl also scored for Dryden (14-7-0), who won for a second consecutive outing and jumped into a three-way tie for second place in the Superior International Junior Hockey League standings, drawing even with Sioux Lookout and Red Lake – with several games in hand on both teams.
Noah Broughton, Evan Lachimea, with his first SIJHL goal, and Edison Weeks scored for Thunder Bay.
Zack MacDonald and Eric Clark split time in the Dryden net, the latter making 31 saves on 31 shots to earn the win. Keenan Marks was good on 43 of 47.
The Stars and Ice Dogs meet again on Wednesday night at the Gardens. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
