The Thunder Bay North Stars got back on the winning track on the road on Friday night, thanks to a two-goal performance from newcomer Aaron Wesley-Chisel.
Kenny Turner and Hayden Hickey also scored for the Stars in the 4-2 win over the Dryden Ice Dogs, who hold a tenuous two-point edge on the Minnesota Iron Rangers in the battle for second and are just six up on Dryden.
Both pursuers have four games in hand on Thunder Bay (25-20-4).
Derek McPhail, who snapped Eric Mann’s shutout bid at 11:09 of the second, and league-leading scorer Cole Golka, responded for Dryden (23-20-2).
In other SIJHL action Friday night, Alex Maticic had a goal and an assist to lead the English River Miners to a home-ice win over the Minnesota Iron Rangers. Thomas Fazio and Noah Anderson scored for the Rangers.