THUNDER BAY – Win the special teams and goaltending battle, chances are you'll win the hockey game.
That's precisely what the Thunder Bay North Stars did on Wednesday night, scoring twice on the power play to secure a come-from-behind win over the visiting Wisconsin Lumberjacks at Fort William Gardens, buoyed in part by an 39-save performance by rookie goaltender Aidan Thomson, making his Superior International Junior Hockey League debut.
Easton Glousher and Bobby Doukov, also newcomers to the North Stars in 2022-23, had a pair of goals apiece, Doukov losing his chance at a hat trick midway through the third when the on-ice officials ruled a puck he deflected past Wisconsin goaltender William Forrester was off a high stick.
Magnus Pearson added an insurance marker with eight minutes to go in regulation, banging home his own rebound, the final goal in Thunder Bay's 5-2 victory, the Stars scoring four unanswered tallies to battle back from a 2-1 deficit early in the second.
It was a much-needed win said Doukov, his team off to a slow 1-3-1 start – though one of the losses was actually a forfeit when the Stars were deemed to have played with an ineligible player in their opener against Fort Frances, wiping out an 8-1 win.
“I think the team kept it simple the whole time. We made sure to get pucks deep. We had quick changes, we kept the game simple and just played hard,” said the California-born Doukov after potting his second and third goals of the season, including the equalizer four minutes into the second.
North Stars coach Rob DeGagne said it was probably the team’s best effort since the opener, calling it a complete team game.
“We got some shots, we went to the net. I thought we got a good team win. We had some different guys scoring goals. Our goaltender played great. Our defence played pretty good as well – and we outshot them,” DeGagne said.
“We have to start playing more as a team and more as a cohesive unit. I don’t think we’ve done that yet this year. Maybe it’s because we’re young, maybe it’s because whatever … but the kids worked for 60 minutes.”
Getting that second win came at just the right time, with Red Lake scheduled to invade Fort William Gardens on Friday and Saturday night.
It’s also important to develop a winning mentality, even early in the season, to avoid staying in sixth place in the seven-team circuit any longer than necessary.
“I think our league is going to have a lot of parity this year, and that’s good for the league and good for everybody. Anybody can win on any given night. But it’s important to get some of these games early and it’s important to win at home,” DeGagne said. “We have to start winning at home. That’s imperative.”
The victory was the first for Thunder Bay at the Gardens this season, albeit it was also only their second outing on home ice.
Though Doukov was one of the offensive heroes for the North Stars on the night, he brushed aside any personal accolades.
“A couple of goals tonight, so I’m glad, but I’m just glad the team got the two points,” said Doukov, praising Thomson for his efforts between the pipes.
“This is his first game and he got a dub, so I’m happy for him. And I’m happy he could contribute to the team’s win.”
Dillon Phillips, with his third of the season, and Salvatore Poggiali, with his sixth, scored the Wisconsin goals, the tallies coming 36 seconds apart in the opening two minutes of the second, turning a 1-0 North Stars lead into a 2-1 advantage for the Lumberjacks.
The North Stars were a perfect 4-for-4 on the penalty kill, scoring twice in five power play chances.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Thunder Bay, Glousher 2 (Winsor) 1:29. Penalties: Sutter WIS (high sticking) 3:40, Ingram WIS (slashing) 17:05, Halushak TB (interference) 19:41.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 2. Wisconsin, Phillips 3 (Olsen, Jouppi) 0:55. 3. Windsor, Poggiali 6 (Phillips, Jouppi). 4. Thunder Bay, Doukov 2 (Murdoch, Weeks) 4:04. 5. Thunder Bay, Glousher 3 (Winsor, Bertrand) 17:43. Penalties: Bertrand TB (cross checking) 9:42, Winscor TB (holding) 11:19, Jouppi WIS (tripping) 17:36.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 6. Thunder Bay, Doukov 3 (Weeks) 4:51 pp. 7. Thunder Bay, Pearson 3 (Meloche) 12:01. Penalties: McDonald WIS (hooking) 3:38, Broughton TB (holding) 5:14, Poggiali WIS (tripping) 8:35.
GAME DATA – SOG – Wisconsin 8-15-18-41, Thunder Bay 15-14-12-41; Power plays (goals-chances) – Wisconsin (0-4), Thunder Bay (2-5); Goaltenders – Wisconsin : William Forrester, Thunder Bay: Aidan Thomson. A: 250.
