Thunder Bay Jr. B/Juvenile/AAA Hockey News
Hawks win away from finals berth

March 14--The Northern Hawks are just one win away from a berth in the Thunder Bay Jr. B/Juvenile/AAA Hockey League finals after skating to a 9-4 victory over the Nipigon Elks Friday in game two of their semifinal series at Nipigon Arena.

Evan Stewart put Nipigon on top at 1:49 of the first period scoring on the power play with his first of three markers in the contest.

Michael Vis tied the game a minute later while Brian Sippila added his first of three at 12:04 of the opening frame to send his side to the dressing room up a goal after 20 mintes.

Stewart would add another early effort in the second striking 36 seconds in to tie the game only to see Sippila answer right back a half a minute later.

Curtis Sandberg and Mark Menei would add later tallies in the middle stanza to make it 5-2 Hawks after two periods of play.

Sippila would complete his hat-trick at 3:37 of the third period while Basil Goodchild made it 7-2 just over a minute later.

Mario Figliomeni would then score shortly afterwards as part of a one goal, three assist night for him.

Stewart then got his third of the game while Elks affiliate Dezi Legali struck shorthanded before the period was half over.

That's as close as they would get however as the Hawks Ryan Beese concluded the goal count in the match at 10:36.

Kirk Bodnar made 30 saves in earning the win between the pipes for the Hawks in a game that saw them pump 63 shots on Nipigon netminder Cody Junttola.

With the victory the Hawks now lead the six-point semifinal 4-0 and will have a chance to wrap up the series on home ice on Saturday evening as game three goes at 9 p.m. at the Tournament Centre.

The winner of this series will then move on to play the first place K&A Wolverines in an eight-point final.

-JRB/JUV/AAA-