DRYDEN, Ont. – Two tallies apiece from Ben Erwin and Cody Bruchkowski was part of a nine-goal outburst by the Thunder Bay North Stars as they went on to defeat their long-time rival Dryden GM Ice Dogs 9-5 Wednesday night in a high-scoring Superior International Junior Hockey League affair at Memorial Arena.
Thunder Bay opened the proceedings by scoring twice on breakaways as Jacob Brown struck shorthanded while Ben Erwin came out of the box and also converted while in alone as the visitors took an early lead.
Battling back, Dryden countered by connecting three times before the opening frame was complete compliments of Dylan Winsor, Stephen Minichiello, with his first SIJHL goal, and Malcolm Huemmert.
Action in the second stanza, in the back and forth match-up, featured the North Stars tacking on three of their own to go up 5-3 after 40 minutes.
Getting those goals for Thunder Bay were Cody Bruchkowski, Ben Erwin and Jett Leishman.
In the third, Bruchkowski added his second of the night and league-leading 36th, which came during a power play to make it 6-3.
After Adam Morgan backhanded in his initial league marker for the North Stars, the GM Ice Dogs countered quickly on efforts Nolan Marshall, who shovelled one in from the right side and another from Huemmert, who did likewise for his 50th career SIJHL goal to bring Dryden back to within two.
Thunder Bay then added some insurance with a extra-man effort from Joel Willan before Michael Vecchio rounded out the scoring in the final minute to wrap things up offensively.
Jett Leishman aided the North Stars cause with three assists in the triumph.
Shots on net finished up 45-43 in favour of Thunder Bay with Dylan Kosik getting the win while Jacob Anthony suffered the defeat.
Photo credit: Kayla Redsky-Morrison