THIEF RIVER FALLS, Ont. – The Thunder Bay North Stars are headed back to the Superior International Junior Hockey League final for the first time in eight years.
Ryan Mignault scored the series-clinching goal on Monday night at 11:36 of overtime, handing the Stars a 3-2 Game 5 win over the second-seeded Thief River Falls Norskies, earning them a 4-1 series triumph.
The win also assures them a berth at the Dudley Hewitt Cup, as their championship round opponent, the Dryden Ice Dogs, are already in as hosts.
Cody Aarvig spotted the Norskies a 1-0 lead on the power play at 14:39 of the first, the lone goal of the opening two periods.
Keighan Gerrie netted his sixth of the year at 9:03 of the third to tie the score, with Kyle Auger vaulting Thunder Bay in front on the power play with 3:29 to go in regulation.
But the Norskies kept up the fight and Connor Bowery tied it at the 18:20 mark.
Thunder Bay outshot Thief River Falls 40-29, Brandon Bodnar picking the win with a 27-save effort.
Despite the series loss, Thief River Falls fans raised more than US$7,000 for the Humboldt Broncos, who lost 15 members of their organization in a tragic bus accident last Friday.
