DRYDEN, Ont. – The top two teams in the Superior International Junior Hockey League, in the Thief River Falls Norskies and Dryden GM Ice Dogs produced a well-played contest Sunday, but at the end of the night, it was the No. 1 Canadian Junior Hockey League-ranked Norskies that prevailed with their 15th straight win, a 2-0 triumph at Memorial Arena.
Thief River Falls goaltender Brock Lefebvre had a stellar night handling all 36 attempts he faced to register his SIJHL-best third shutout of the campaign.
Quality chances in both ends in the first period saw Thief River Falls break the ice with a minute left in the frame as Alec Daman made no mistake on a late penalty shot as he fired his attempt through the legs of Dryden starter Jacob Gnidziejko.
After a scoreless middle stanza, the Norskies added their second of the night, during a man advantage opportunity, as Connor Bowey’s snap shot from the point was redirected past Gnidziejko by Jared Pedersen from the high slot four minutes into the third.
Dryden pressed hard to get on the board throughout, especially in the late stages of regulation, but could not solve Lefebvre.
The loss was Dryden’s first on home ice in regulation time since back on Sept. 30, 2016 vs. Thunder Bay as they fell to 10-2-2-1 overall this season.
Gnidziejko faced 22 attempts in defeat for the GM Ice Dogs.
Photo credit: Michael Christianson, Dryden Observer