Stars take two-game lead on Nipigon

A James Pelletier goal with 6:56 remaining proved to be the difference as the Jr. B Stars rallied to edge the Nipigon Elks 6-5 Friday in game two of their Thunder Bay Jr. B/Juvenile/AAA Hockey League semi-final series contested at the Nipigon Community Centre.

Jessie Assunmaa would put the home side up 2:56 in as he converted just as a Stars’ penalty was expiring.

Joe Szura would answer back for the visitors with a man advantage marker of his own four minutes after that only to see Lucas Restoule restore Nipigon’s lead 14 seconds later.

Sean Moulton’s third of the postseason would then tie it 5:45 into the middle frame.

Assunmaa’s second of the night put the Elks on top for a third time, but Dezi Legallais would knot the proceedings midway through the second stanza to make it a 3-3 game after 40 minutes.

Nipigon’s Assunmaa would complete his hat-trick giving the Elks their fourth lead of the evening early in the third, but once again the Stars would have an answer as Brandon Wolframe replied at 8:45.

Restoule would then respond moments later with his second of the game making it 5-4 Nipigon.

Chris Bourdons would pull his side level for a fifth time setting the stage for the Stars to take their one and only lead as Pelletier came through with the game-winner in the late stages.

Neill Kelley would make 45 saves to register the win in net while Thomas Gratz faced 37 shots in a losing cause.
 
The Stars will now try and finish off the series while the Elks attempt to stave off elimination in game three of the best-of-five set, which goes Saturday evening at the Thunder Bay Tournament Centre. Game time is 7 p.m.

The other league semi-final continues Sunday as the Northern Hawks try to complete a three-game sweep of the Screaming Eagles at Delaney Arena. Action there gets underway at 8 p.m.