Norskies and Lumberjacks even in early SIJHL meetings

By Jim den Hollander

Editor/Publisher

Midwesthockey.info

With four head-to-head- early season meetings, it seems the Wisconsin Lumberjacks and Thief River Falls Norskies are about as even as two teams can bet.

After opening the season with a pair of games at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Thief River Falls September 17-18, the pair met again at Spooner Civic Center September 24-25. Both teams won a pair, three of the four settled by a single goal and one of them going to overtime.

On the first weekend, the host Norskies collected a 3-2 edge in overtime but the Lumberjacks rallied back the following night with a 2-1 edge. The following week saw the host Lumberjacks capturing another 2-1 edge before the Norskies snapped a two-game losing streak with a 5-2 win.

The Wood Choppers carried a 1-0 lead out of the first period in the first game, but teams were even at 2-2 after the second. Following a scoreless third, Scott Bugarin (’02/Moreno Valley, CA) finished off a hat trick with the game winner in overtime for the Norskies.

Caden Phelps (’02/Eagan, MN) and Connor Hacker (’02/Sartell, MN) scored the Lumberjack goals.

Matthew Loney (’02/Highland, CA) stopped 32 of 34 to pick up the win in goal.

The following night Zach Carson (’02/Hermantown, MN) sank the game winner for the Jacks with 4:07 to play after Jake Smith (’01/Highlands Ranch, CO) tied it in the middle period.

The lone Norskies goal came from JJ Martin (’01/Hopkins, MN).

Charles Beehler (’01/Erie, CO) stopped all but one of the 24 shots he faced for the Lumberjacks and Matthew Mason (’02/Medfield, MA) stopped 35 shots for the Norskies.

The following weekend at Spooner, Carson notched his second straight game winner with 6:52 to go after an earlier goal by Jake McCall (’02/Parker, CO). Bugarin responded with the lone Norskies’ goal.

Tyler Swanson (’02/Moorhead, MN) picked up the win in goal for the Lumberjacks with 28 stops.

The most lopsided game of the bunch wrapped up the stretch. Teams were even at 2-2 after a period but it was all Norskies in the final two frames with two unanswered second period goals and another in the third.

Jace Thompson (’02/Valley City, ND) paced the Norskies with two goals and others came from Alan Yu (’01/Baldwin Park, CA); Chase Hapka and Martin.

Ryder McMillen (’02/Silver Bay, MN) and Colt Comstock (’01/Nanton, AB) scored the Lumberjack goals. Loney saved 34 of 36 shots to pick up his second win of the season in goal for the Norskies.