(Buffalo, N.Y.)- The SUNY Canton men's ice hockey team was minutes away from having their season come to an end on Friday in the first round of the NJCAA Ice Hockey National Tournament. But the fourth-seeded Northstars had other plans as they scored four goals in the final 4:17 of the third period to stun No. 5 Hudson Valley 4-2 at Bud Bakewell Arena in Buffalo.

SUNY Canton improved to 11-10-3 and will play top-seeded North Country Community College in the semifinals on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

The Northstars rally started when Hudson Valley (11-12-3) was whistled for a hooking penalty with 4:34 on the clock. Kyle Laurie (Canton, N.Y.) finally got the Northstars on the board 17 seconds later scoring his 17th of the year off a rebound from Jeremy Kolb (Rush, N.Y.). Nick Emmick (Richford, N.Y.) also assisted on the goal.

Kolb then tied the game just over a minute later with a pure hustle goal short-handed. With the Northstars a man down due to a cross-checking penalty, Emmick got control of the puck at center ice and threaded a beautiful lead pass to Kolb, who then out skated the defense and scored as he was falling to the ice. It was Kolb's eighth goal of the year and third short-handed.

SUNY Canton wasn't done as Laurie then scored the game-winner and 18th of the year off assists from Emmick and Matt Bailey (Parishville, N.Y.). Emmick then added an empty-net goal with 37 seconds in the game.

SUNY Canton held a 34-29 edge in total shots but was out shot 12-7 in the first period. Thanks to several terrific saves from freshmen Dustin Deleel (Massena, N.Y.) and Lent the score was 0-0 after one. Hudson Valley did have a 5-on-3 for a full two minutes but Deleel turned away several point blank shots.

The Northstars woke up in the second period firing 16 shots on goal, including seven in the first five minutes of the period, but still could not solve Lent, who had 30 saves.

The Vikings finally got one past Deleel with a power play goal at the 11:19 mark. Jeff Beecher picked the puck off the boards, skated into the high slot and wristed a hard shot past Deleel's blocker. Brian Maher and Dane Anderson picked up assists.

Hudson Valley made it 2-0 25 seconds into the third period when Beecher pounced on a Northstars defensive zone turnover and skated in all alone on Deleel for his second goal. Beecher had another breakaway in the third period but was stoned by Deleel who finished with 27 saves in one of his best games of the season.

SUNY Canton was 1-for-11 on the power play and Hudson Valley was 1-for-9.

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