The Thunder Bay North Stars celebrate a goal during Game 3 of their semifinal series against the Dryden Ice Dogs on April 11, 2023 (Adam Riley/Acadia Broadcasting)

The winner of the Bill Salonen Cup this year will be one of two teams from the Lakehead region after the Thunder Bay North Stars pulled of a comeback of three games to take Game 7 in Dryden against the Ice Dogs, securing a spot in the SIJHL finals.

Like Wednesday night Dryden opened up the score with a power play goal from Max Rath early in the 1st period.

North Stars’ Jamie Fuchs would follow up a few minutes later with a power play goal of his own.

In the dying minutes of the 1st the Ice Dogs pick up a penalty shot opportunity through Ryland Maier, but the forward is unable to get it past Keenan Marks and its 1-1 going into the 2nd.

A few penalties made up a bulk of the incidents in the 2nd period, but no scoring.

9 minutes into the 3rd Edison Weeks puts Thunder Bay up by one, but that lead was short lived as Max Roby evens things out and the game heads into overtime.

No penalties or scoring in the first period of overtime.

Three quarters of the way through the 2nd overtime Rath picks up a tripping penalty and the North Stars go on the offensive.

31 seconds later Nikolas Campbell, who the night prior picked himself up a natural hat trick picks up a power play goal, and the Thunder Bay North Stars are heading to the SIJHL finals.

There they will face competition from the neighbouring Kam River Fighting Walleye in a series that is certain to pack both the Fort William Gardens and the Norwest Arena.