THUNDER BAY – Cody Bruchkowski single-handedly ensured the Thunder Bay North Stars unexpected losing streak came to a crashing halt at five.
The North Stars forward scored five times on Friday night to lead his team to a 7-4 home-ice win over the visiting Dryden Ice Dogs at Fort William Gardens.
The scoring eruption gives Bruchkowski a league-high 22 goals on the season and vaulted him into top spot in the Superior International Junior Hockey league scoring parade with 32 points, two better than teammate Jacob Brown.
Bruchkowski scored twice in the first to give the North Stars a 2-1 lead after the opening period, then completed the natural hat trick five minutes into the second.
He added two more, the goals coming 2:24 apart in the opening 5:14 of the third. Nikolas Campbell, who will leave for Calgary and a chance to play for Team Canada West at the upcoming World Junior A Challenge, and Enrico Bozac, had Thunder Bay’s other goals.
Dylan DiTomasa had a pair for Dryden, with singles going to Lucas Fabijancic and Brad Fortier.
Thunder Bay’s Joel WIllan and Dryden’s Parker James were tossed for fighting in the second, while North Stars forward Ben Erwin and the Ice Dogs Dylan Winsor got the boot for tangling in the third.
Jordan Smith turned aside 46 shots to earn the win for Thunder Bay, while Dryden counterpart Knute Loe was victimized seven times on 40 shots.
