SPOONER, Wisc. – If the Thunder Bay North Stars are going to move up in the standings before the Superior International Junior Hockey League season wraps up at month’s end, they’re going to have to start putting some wins on the board.
It’s especially important when their opponent is the Dryden Ice Dogs, the team they’re chasing for third place.
The North Stars did just that on Thursday, on Day 3 of the SIJHL Showcase in Spooner, Wisc., edging the Ice Dogs 6-5 to improve to 17-14-3.
Dylan Bertrand, Edison Weeks and Hayden Cattani scored three goals in a five-minute span in the third to power Thunder Bay to victory.
Lou Vesperini, Nolan Desjardins and Zack Davis had the North Stars other markers.
Tristan Takats and Maxime Collette, the league’s leading point-getter, had two goals apiece for Dryden, the other goal coming from Tyler Early. Takats added a pair of assists.
Trennis Riley picked up the with for Thunder Bay, making 44 saves. Cole Johnston took the loss for Dryden (21-11-3), victimized six times on 44 shots.
Red Lake 5, Kam River 3: The Miners (24-5-2) stormed back with four unanswered goals in the third to knock off the Fighting Walleye (29-5-2) in battle for top spot in the SIJHL.
Ethan Pool, Ryan Hunter, Ryan Howe and Nic Bolin scored for Red Lake in the final stanza. Noah Kramps had the Miners other goal, at 12:33 of the second, to break the goose egg, Kam River leading 3-0 at the time on goals by Zach Fortin, Daylton Clarke and Kersey Reich.
It was the Fighting Walleye’s third loss in their last five games, following a 17-game win streak.
Wisconsin 5, Fort Frances 4: Zach Carson’s second of the night earned the host Lumberjacks a one-goal win, their second of the Showcase. Ryder McMillen, Salvatore Poggiali and Brock Weimer also scored for Wisconsin (13-23-2). Jake Hale, Kaleb Bruyere, Jett Mintenko and Ty Milgate and the Lakers tallies. Fort Frances (5-28-0) remains in seventh place in the now six-team league.
