The Northern Hawks picked up three points apiece from Brett Biasiol, Nathan Spina and Josh Elvish to help lead them to an 8-5 victory over the Nipigon Elks Friday evening in game 2 of the Thunder Bay Jr. B Hockey League championship series at the Tournament Centre.
With the triumph, the Hawks now lead the best-of-final 2-0 heading into games 3 and 4 Saturday and Sunday at 7 p.m. at Nipigon Arena.
The home side jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in this one with markers by Dallas Allaire, Biasiol and Cary Brown only to see Landon Clearwater put the Elks on the board before the opening frame was complete.
Three more tallies in the second stanza increased the cushion to 6-1 before the midway mark of the contest with the goals coming off the sticks of Spina, Brown and Geoff Vaillant.
After Mark Dawd and Spina traded goals, Matt Jean and Elvish did likewise to make it an 8-3 game after 40 minutes.
Nipigon pulled closer in the third thanks to Max Verville and Steven St. Jean, but their comeback bid would go no further.
Eric Rogers made 29 saves to record the victory in net for the Hawks while Thomas Gratz was saddled with the loss as he faced 49 shots. Mitchell Barr saw three attempts in a brief relief stint for the Elks.
The league winner will then advance to the 2012 Keystone Cup Western Canadian Jr. B Championship April 18-22 in Saskatoon, Sask.
