Dryden drops North Stars 5-2 for second win of weekend

Youth and a lack of discipline are sometimes synonymous in hockey.

For the second straight night, the Thunder Bay North Stars proved the old adage, giving the visiting Dryden Ice Dogs nine power play opportunities.

While they only managed one goal with the man advantage, it was one that set the tone for the rest of the night.

Eight seconds into their Superior International Junior Hockey League contest Saturday night at Fort William Gardens, North Stars forward Brad Arabia was sent off for a spearing double-minor. Before the game hit the two-minute mark Braeden Allkins beat Riley Corbin to give the Ice Dogs a 1-0 lead, an advantage they wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the night.

Allkins, who also scored in Friday’s 6-3 win, added another goal and assisted on Ben Smaha’s second of two on the night in the third as Dryden went on to a 5-2 triumph.

“We knew it was important that we play 60 minutes every game and I think we managed to do that and just build off each other and get some points out of this weekend,” said Allkins, a Golden, B.C. native who turned 19 on Friday.

“I was just trying to do the little things right, get to the net. Coach said crash, bang at the net and get shots on net and pucks were going in for me this weekend.”

Nic Noseworthy, tossed for a second straight night after a second-period tangle with Thunder Bay’s Cashen Tighe, doubled the Dryden lead two minutes into the second, switching from backhand to forehand on a breakaway to beat Corbin five-hole.

Less than a minute later the North Stars stuck back, Brad Arabia taking advantage of a giveaway deep in Ice Dogs territory.
But Allkins struck again before the period ended to make it 3-1 after 40 minutes.

Smaha tallied his first of the night at 6:21 of the first, but the Stars cut the lead to two with seven minutes to go, Arabia netting his second of the contest.

But Paul Laferriere stood tall the rest of the way. He’d finish with 25 saves on the night. Corbin, who faced 45 shots, made 40 stops.

“The start was horrendous,” said assistant coach Doug Colbon, filling in for the vacationing Jeremy Adduono.

“We took eight minutes in penalties in the first six minutes and the flow of the game just goes away. Then you’re playing from behind all the time and that Dryden team is a tough team to play, let alone to have to catch up to them.”

The North Stars host the Minnesota Iron Rangers on Friday night.