IRONWOOD, Mich. – After giving away a point the night before, the Thunder Bay North Stars were bound and determined to not do it again.
But it took a slow start to get their motors running.
Collin Baker and Will Porter scored the first two goals of Saturday night’s Superior International Junior Hockey League contest, giving the home team a 2-0 lead with six minutes to go in the opening period.
It was all Thunder Bay from that point on.
The North Stars rolled off nine unanswered goals over the next 46 minutes of play, and went on to humble the host Ironwood Lumberjacks 9-3. Jarred Feist scored three times for Thunder Bay and Tyler Jordan potted his fifth goal in two nights to help lead the North Stars attack.
Alex Remenda chipped in a pair of goals and an assist, with singles going to Evan Simeoni, Easton Glousher and Acoeyn Fehr.
Liam Letters stood tall in the Thunder Bay net, stopping the final 22 shots he faced to earn the win. Trent Boryszczuk was victimized for all nine goals, facing 52 Thunder Bay shots over 60 minutes.
Sioux Lookout 4, Dryden 3: The defending SIJHL champion Bombers exploded for four third-period goals to compete a comeback from a 3-0 deficit after two periods to the Ice Dogs. Owen Cotter, Owen Riffel, Kaden Valler and Sage Roberts, who tallied the game-winner with 3:37 to go in regulation, scored for the Bombers, who tied the game with three goals just 4:06 apart. Kelby Diehl, with a pair, and Max Roby, with his 24th of the season, scored second-period goals for Dryden.
Fort Frances 3, Red Lake 2: Brady Krentz score the overtime winner to earn the Lakers the triumph. Nathan Dann and Bryson Carlyle had the Miners goals. Landon Lowers and Pierce Gouin scored the Lakers other goals.
Kam River 1, Kenora 0: The Fighting Walleye earned a second straight forfeit win, days after the Islanders announced they were suspending operations until they found a new owner for the second-year team. Kenora was scheduled to play Thunder Bay at Fort William Gardens on Tuesday and Wednesday night. The Stars will earn automatic wins in both contests, unless the ownership situation is resolved by then.