Though it may not show in the scores, the Borderland Thunder dominated play in a pair of narrow victories over the K&A Variety Golden Hawks in Thunder Bay over the weekend.
The wins gave the second-place Thunder a 15-3-1 record, just two points behind the first-place Fort William First Nation North Stars (16-0-1).
The Thunder fired 54 shots on the Golden Hawks’ goal on Saturday but only managed a 2-1 win.
Sean Councillor scored late in the first period, assisted by Tyler Barker and Kurt Hogard, before Dennis Morrison added an insurance tally midway in the second, with Josh McAndrew and Ryan Mayman drawing assists.
Tyler Gordon stopped 26 shots to earn the win, which brings his record to 9-3-1 on the season.
Then on Sunday, the Thunder fired 39 shots en route to a 5-3 victory to sweep the two-game series.
Councillor (Derek Fisher/David Gooch) drew the Thunder even at 1-1 early in the second period. Then Morrison tallied twice shortly afterwards to make the score 3-1.
Mayman and Hogard drew assists on the first goal while Councillor and Aaron Boyer assisted on Morrison’s second one.
The Golden Hawks battled back with a pair of goals to tie the score at 3-3, but Boyer (McAndrew) and Gooch (Boyer/McAndrew) iced the game with two goals laid in the third period.
Tim Higbee stopped 26 of the Golden Hawks’ 29 shots to earn the win, which gives him six on the season against no losses.
The Thunder will look to extend their three-game winning streak when they host the Dryden Ice Dogs on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Ice for Kids Arena.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
