THUNDER BAY – The Thief River Falls are going to lose at some point.
But Friday night wasn’t the night.
The top-ranked team in the Canadian Junior Hockey League scraped out a 4-3 overtime win over the host Thunder Bay North Stars.
Parker Simonson netted his 16th of the season just past the midway point of the third to end the game into extra time and Peter Grytadahl sealed 1:58 into overtime to earn the Norskies their 16th straight win to start the Superior International Junior Hockey League season.
The Stars fell to 9-5-3 with the loss.
Blair Lindholm and Simonson staked the Norskies to a 2-0 lead after one, but Owen Belisle and Jare Fanti responded for the Stars in the second to tie the game 2-2 after 40 minutes.
Dillon Ward pulled Thunder Bay into the lead 3:17 into the third, scoring his eighth game of the season. Brandon Bodnar took the loss in nets, making 27 saves, while Bailey Schmitz picked up the win, turning aside 40 of the 43 shots directed his way.
The two teams will tangle again on Saturday night at Fort William Gardens.
