Monday, January 7, 2013

The Superior – Northern Showdown: Day 2 Wrap

Press Release

SPOONER, Wis. – Day 2 of the inaugural Superior – Northern Showdown featuring clubs from the Superior International Junior Hockey League and the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League went the way of the SIJHL as both of the their clubs went on to post victories.

FORT FRANCES LAKERS 6 ELLIOT LAKE BOBCATS 0 – A five-goal third period blew open as close game as Fort Frances posted the shutout win.

A Cody Wickstorm marker in the late stages of the opening frame would hold up as the game-winner as he beat Bobcats’ starter Thomas Graham at 17:56.

The middle session was scoreless before the Lakers erupted in the third to put the game away.

Colton Spicer had a pair of power play markers in the final stanza to aid the Fort Frances cause while Jon Carlson, Patrick Sofer and Hunter Leishman supplied singles.

Tanner Hamilton made 21 saves to register the shutout and Graham was peppered with 58 shots in the setback.

MINNESOTA WILDERNESS 3 SOO THUNDERBIRDS 1 – The marquee match-up of the SIJHL-NOJHL Showdown saw the Wilderness win for a 19th straight time, having recorded 17 consecutive victories in league play as well as two triumphs in this event.

Minnesota grabbed an early lead as Jeremy Johnson found the back of the net on Soo starter Joel Horodziejczyk 2:22 into the contest.

The Wilderness, ranked the No. 2 club in the Canadian Junior Hockey League, extended their lead midway through the opening period as Danny Bartkowiak converted at 9:57.

Sault Ste. Marie, tabbed 12th nationally in the final CJHL rankings of 2012, put an end to Gordie Defiel’s shutout bid half way through the second stanza and Yan Kalashnikov struck on the power play finishing off the work of Anthony Miller and Michael Caruso.

Peter Barral wrapped up the night’s scoring in the third on a night that saw the two-time SIJHL champions out shoot the defending NOJHL and Dudley-Hewitt Cup title holders 45-26.
Minnesota will play one final game against NOJHL competition as they’ll meet the Elliot Lake Bobcats Sunday at 2 p.m. CT/3 p.m. ET in Hayward, Wis.


 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)

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