THUNDER BAY – Kyle Auger doesn’t want any of the credit for the Thunder Bay North Stars recent hot streak.
But it’s no coincidence the team – winners of 10 straight after Saturday night’s 4-0 whitewashing of the visiting Dryden Ice Dogs – have been on a roll since he arrived from the major junior ranks on Jan. 5. The Stars have won 11 of the 12 games the 19-year-old defenceman has played, with Auger scoring six times and adding a dozen assists over that span.
He was at it again on Saturday night, collecting a pair of goals, netting the lone goal of the second period to break a scoreless tie and doubling the North Stars lead on the power play seven minutes into the third.
After stints this season with the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey League and the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Auger simply wanted to come home.
“I ended up coming home because I wasn’t enjoying it, but I think with the help from the guys maybe I’ll enjoying it again,” said Auger, who began his OHL career in 2015 with the Windsor Spitfires.
“It’s not really all about points. I’m just getting the bounces right now. Hopefully it’ll keep going.”
First-year coach Rob DeGagne is certainly happy with the results, Auger helping his team improve to 27-11-3 and within second-place Dryden (28-5-7) and 11 of first-place Thief River Fall.
A rushing defenceman in the mold of Phil Housley or Paul Coffey, he opens up opportunities all over the ice, DeGagne said.
“He’s gifted offensively and it helps us. It’s really like having an extra forward out there. That’s really what it amounts to because he’s always up in the play – sometimes more than I’d like,” DeGagne said. “But you preach every day, get in the play, and as long as we’ve got guys backing him up, I don’t mind it. He’s a special player.”
Auger is the centrepiece of a retooling of the North Stars blue-line since Dec. 1, the Superior International Junior Hockey League team adding Alexander Leonidas, Logan Mihalcin and Jake Behse during the trade window.
It’s a collective effort, he said.
“I definitely think the acquisitions we made before the deadline were huge. Some of the guys we got an really make an impact in this league and I honestly think it’s not just a fluke that we’re winning 10 in a row and 11 of the last 12,” Auger said. “I think we’re a really strong team and I think we can really make a run at this.”
Also stepping up on Saturday was goaltender Brandon Bodnar, who stopped 25 shots for his fourth shutout of the season, taking over the undisputed No. 1 role with Dougie Newhouse on loan to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
He stopped former Star Kris Hamlin from point-blank range in the second and forced Ted Davis far enough outside that he lost control trying to deke his way to a goal later in the period, when the Ice Dogs peppered him with 14 shots.
“I’m feeling pretty good about myself. I’m getting to play a lot with Doug called up and getting some time in the O. These couple of wins have been huge for my confidence and I’m going to keep rolling with it,” said Bodnar, who has a 3.16 goals against average in 2017-18, his third in the SIJHL.
Alex Maticic and Evan Mignault scored third-period power play goals 37 seconds apart in the third to round out the North Stars scoring.
Thunder Bay takes on Thief River Falls on the road on Friday. Their next home game is Feb. 22 against English River.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: None. Penalties: Simm DRY (tripping) 6:52, Mowatt DRY (slashing) 7:35, Hamlin DRY, Gerrie TB (unsportsmanlike conduct) 15:32, Auger TB (roughing) 17:20, Kavanaugh DRY (tripping) 17:32, Woods DRY (slashing) 18:43.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Thunder Bay, Auger 5 (Maticic) 5:55. Penalties: Bench minor TB (too many men, served by Ward) 2:07, Mihalcin TB (high sticking) 6:50, Bracko DRY (hooking) 7:48, Behse TB 12:37, Leonidas TB (holding) 18:06.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 2. Thunder Bay, Auger 6 (Thrower) 7:03 pp. 3. Thunder Bay, Maticic 16 (Siau, Newhouse) 7:40 pp. 4. Thunder Bay, Mignault 14 (Thrower, Erwin) 17:43 pp. Penalties: Woods DRY (slashing) 5:55, Huemmert DRY (slashing) 7:28, Mihalcin TB, Hamlin DRY (roughing), Mowatt DRY (unsportsmanlike conduct, cross checking), Santin TB (misconduct) 8:52, Hamlin DRY, Huemmert DRY, Gerrie TB, Siau TB (roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct) 16:36, Johnston DRY (hooking) 16:58, Davis DRY (misconduct), Mowatt DRY, Turbide TB (roughing) 18:13.
GAME DATA – SOG – Dryden 8-14-3-25, Thunder Bay 18-9-12-39; Power plays (goals-chances) – Dryden (0-5), Thunder Bay (2-8); Goaltenders – Dryden: Landon Pavlisin, Thunder Bay, Brandon Bodnar; A: 488.
