THUNDER BAY – The Dryden Ice Dogs didn’t let surrendering a two-goal, third-period lead get them down.
The Superior International Junior Hockey League front-runners instead got the job done on the road in overtime.
Evan Mayer potted his ninth goal of the season 2:32 into the extra frame to deliver the visiting Ice Dogs a 4-3 win over the Thunder Bay North Stars, who trailed 3-1 after 40 minutes.
Maxwell Buffone and Beau Helmeczi, who connected on the power play with 2:02 to play in regulation, scored goals 10 minutes apart in the third to send the game to overtime.
The two teams played a scoreless first and traded goals early in the second, Jordan Wales beating Keenan Marks to give Dryden a 1-0 lead at the 8:08 mark of the middle stanza, Acoyen Fehr evening things up at 12:15.
The Ice Dogs scored two quick goals, coming 12 seconds apart, in the final 69 seconds of the second period, to jump in front by two.
Eli Antoine beat Marks at 18:51 and Payton Hu, with his 15th of the season, added another goal in rapid fashion to give Dryden the momentum heading into period No. 3.
Kellan Mooney earned the win in nets for the Ice Dogs (19-5-1), good on 35 of 38 shots. Marks made 39 saves for the North Stars (15-6-2), who sit in fourth place in the standings.
Kam River 10, Kenora 3: The Fighting Walleye put up double digits for the second night in a row, downing the Islanders by seven goals. Zach Baumann scored a pair for Kam River, while Carter Poddubny put up a goal and three assists and Cole Piccinin had a goal and two helpers. Ashton Sadaukas made 18 saves to pick up the win.
Fort Frances 4, Sioux Lookout 3 (OT): Ian Ness scored the overtime winner, his second of the game, to lead the Lakers past the Bombers. Jack Wood and Brady Krentz also score for Fort Frances. Brodie Wood, Alex Lucas and Kaden Veller, who sent the game to overtime with a last-minute goal in the third, scored for Sioux Lookout.
