DRYDEN, Ont. – The Dryden GM Ice Dogs forced overtime late then went on to edge the Thief River Falls Norskies 4-3 in a shootout in a tightly contested Superior International Junior Hockey League match-up Sunday night at Memorial Arena.
The initial power play of the night helped Dryden pick-up the lone marker of the first period as Brendan Jay blasted his seventh of the season past Thief River Falls starter Bailey Schmitz at 4:15.
Mitchell Soderberg tied it for the Norskies 77 seconds into the middle frame before Evan Walls put the home side back on top two minutes later.
Battling back once more, the visitors drew level again as Blair Lindholm converted during a man advantage at 13:58.
Thief River Falls then came right back and went in front on the next shift as Aslan Akervik connected at even strength to put them up 3-2 after 40 minutes.
It stayed that way until the late going of regulation when Cory Dennis forced overtime with 30 seconds remaining.
Skating three aside in OT could not determine a winner so it went to extra shots to decide it.
In the shootout both Jacen Bracko of the GM Ice Dogs and Alec Daman of the Norskies both scored on their respective club’s first chance.
After the next two chances per team failed to capitalize, it was Tristan Simm who won it for Dryden in the fourth round to give them the second point on the night.
Jacob Gnidziejko made 29 stops through 65 minutes of action to register the win for the GM Ice Dogs while Schmitz had 40 saves through regulation and OT in helping Thief River Falls earn a point.
Photo credit: Michael Christianson, Dryden Observer