SPOONER, Wis. – The Wisconsin Lumberjacks erupted for a franchise single-game-best seven goals as they went on to top the Thief River Falls Norskies 7-3 Friday in a Superior International Junior Hockey League encounter at the Spooner Civic Center.
First period play saw Wisconsin open the scoring midway through the session thanks to Lukas Lundgren.
Up a skater, Thief River Falls drew level at 14:29 with Isaac Baron stuffing one in from the left of the crease to knot the affair at 1-1.
The Lumberjacks came back to regain the lead with a power play marker of their own before the frame was complete as Joel Matthews intercepted a clearing attempt, got past a defender, and fired in his sixth of the campaign.
Action in the middle stanza saw Wisconsin strike four times to gain the upper hand in the contest beginning with Lundgren’s second of the night at 5:45.
Cade Moreland then made it 4-1at 10:32 thanks to a nice effort driving to the net from the right wing.
Celebrating their 20th birthday, twin brothers Ryley and Austin Cardinal combined to set-up Nicholas Solema in front, who promptly added to the Lumberjacks edge.
After getting the puck chipped out of their own zone, the Norskies were sent on a two-man breakaway that saw Jonah Henderson feed Cory Checco on a cross-ice feed that resulted in his first SIJHL goal, coming in his league debut.
In the third, Wisconsin got their team-record seventh at 13:22 as a Braden LaPorte pass in front banked off the skate of Matt Turnbull and in.
Henderson did get one back in the final minute for Thief River Falls to round out the scoring.
Lumberjacks starter Hunter Adams turned in another solid performance, making 41 saves in a winning cause.
Seth Purcilly started for the Norskies and suffered the loss, giving up five on 19 chances, while Caleb Sauer stopped 10 of 12 in 26 and a half minutes of relief.
The two teams will meet again Saturday back in Spooner at 7:45 p.m.
Photo credit: Karina Schafer