Special teams costs North Stars in lopsided loss to Lakers

The Thunder Bay North Stars might want to think twice before accepting any future penalties handed to the Fort Frances Lakers.

The defending Superior International Junior Hockey League champions scored a trio of shorthanded goals on Saturday night and went on the crush the last-place North Stars 8-2 on home ice.

Carter Chorney had a goal and three assists for the top-ranked Lakers (14-2-0), while Dylan Kooner added a goal and two helpers.

Brandon Zajicek and Isaiah Olschewske scored shorthanded 65 seconds apart in the opening stanza, putting Fort Frances up 3-1 at the time.

Jack Bernie, Andrew Willner, Christian Ripley and Ryan Gazich also scored for the host team.

Kenny Turner and Aaron Wesley-Chisel replied for Thunder Bay (6-10-2).

Riley Corbin got the start for the Stars in net, but was yanked after Olschewske’s tally at 16:19 of the first, having made eight stops on 11 shots.

Eric Mann went the rest of the way. Pierce Dushenko only had to turn aside 22 shots in goal for Fort Frances to earn the victory.