New week, same result.
Fresh off a win and a tie against the Nipigon Feathermen Hawks to open the SIJHL season, the Borderland Thunder repeated the feat over the weekend on the road against the Fort William Wolves.
Matt Johnson’s power-play goal with 5:19 left in the third period lifted the Thunder to a 4-4 tie on Friday while a three-goal third-period Saturday was the difference in a 4-3 victory over the Wolves.
The Thunder (2-0-2) preserved their unbeaten record by battling back both nights from a two-goal deficit in the third.
Kevin Webb had a pair of goals in Friday’s draw, with Kyle Prystupa adding his fifth of the season.
Spencer Bodnar had a pair of goals and three points for the Wolves, with Jarryd Brend and Fort Frances native Bryce Witherspoon tallying singles against Thunder goalie Tom Iwaniec.
Webb’s power-play marker and team-leading seventh goal of the season put the Thunder on the board Saturday after Ben Reynolds and Bodnar had staked the Wolves to a 2-0 lead.
Kurtis Klages made it 3-1 before Prystupa cut the lead to 3-2 at the 53-second mark of the third.
Josh Baxter and Josh McAndrew then scored 10 seconds apart four minutes later to put Borderland ahead for good as new goalie Kyle Rogers earned the win in his first game in a Thunder uniform.
The Thunder return home to play the Northwest Wisconsin Knights this Friday and Saturday at the Ice for Kids Arena, with the opening face-off set for 7:30 p.m. both nights.
In related news, the controversial four-player deal between the Thunder and Nipigon officially has been called off.
Borderland initially had dealt forwards Justin Bodnarchuk and Mike Fair, along with defenceman Terry Parisien, to the Hawks in exchange for forward Brent Greene back on Sept. 23.
Bodnarchuk and Greene both voiced their opposition to the trade in the past week, with Bodnarchuk stating Friday there was “no way” he would report to Nipigon.
On Monday morning, SIJHL president Jerry Blazino confirmed he had received word late Friday evening that both teams had agreed to back out of the trade.
