THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay North Stars still haven’t rounded out their roster just yet.
With injuries to three players, the Stars dressed five affiliate players in Wednesday night’s home opener, an extended training camp of sorts as the team looks to solidify its lineup going forward.
The young squad showed its age at times against the Minnesota Iron Rangers, surrendering a two-goal, second-period lead over an eight-minute span.
But that’s when the veteran leadership kicked in.
Troy Sherman scored twice, including the go-ahead goal two minutes after the Iron Rangers Clayton Brown tied it, and Brad Thrower added a goal and an assist, the Stars scoring four straight goals en route to a 6-3 triumph, their second straight to open the Superior International Junior Hockey League campaign.
“We just had to get our legs moving,” said the 20-year-old Thrower, back for a third season with his hometown North Stars.
“We were flat. We weren’t moving our feet and we weren’t getting pucks deep. There were too many turnovers at the blue-line. Getting pucks deep helped, making their D turn, and they just go tired and they couldn’t keep up with us.”
Sherman, one of seven skaters back with the Stars this season, said the team knows there’s no such thing as an easy win this year.
They learned a lesson letting the Iron Rangers back into the contest.
“When we get up a few, we’ve got to keep the pressure on. We’ve got to bury them right away,” said Sherman, who scored 14 goals in 54 games for the Stars last season, his second with the club.
Coach Rob DeGagne, a rookie in the SIJHL but a long-time bench boss with the Thunder Bay Kings organization, said he’ll take the 2-0-0 start.
“In the middle of the game we kind of let down a little bit tonight, but for the most part, with what we have so far, the kids are working hard and it’s been good,” DeGagne said.
The North Stars struck first, Charlie Corness potting his first of the season five minutes into the opening period. Rookie Carson Smith beat Minnesota goalie Jackson Nelson with five minutes to go in the first, the host squad taking a 2-0 lead in front of 244 fans at Fort William Gardens.
Mark Sanchez was first to put the puck past North Stars goalie Brandon Bodnar, fresh off two seasons with the Fort Frances Lakers, connecting two minutes into the middle stanza.
Brown responded eight minutes later, but it was all Stars from there on in.
Sherman slammed home a one-timer on the power play to put the home side in front for good, taking a 3-2 lead into the third.
Dillon Ward doubled the North Stars advantage early in the third, Thrower and Sherman pushing the advantage to four, the former with Thunder Bay down a man, the latter goal coming on the power play.
The Stars outshot their opponent 43-23, outgunning them 20-7 in the third.
first period
Scoring: 1. Thunder Bay, Corness 1 (Brassard, Anttonen) 5:09. 2. Thunder Bay, Smith 1 (Anttonen, Erwin) 15:15. Penalties: Thompson MIN (kneeing) 1:35, Corness TB (interference) 6:06, Woodward MIN 7:56, Bench minor TB (too many men, served by Thrower) 13:08, Litke MIN (high sticking) 17:15.
Second period
Scoring: 3. Minnesota, Sanchez (Brown) 1:56. 4. Minnesota, Brown (Sanchez) 9:47. 5. Thunder Bay, Sherman 1 (Thrower, Gillis) 11:57 pp. Penalties: Corness TB (hooking) 5:46, Bench minor MIN (too many men, served by Houdek) 11:04, Boon TB (tripping) 13:07, Bench minor (too many men, served by Hickner) 15:47.
Third period
Scoring: 6. Thunder Bay, Ward 1 (Newhouse) 3:31. 7. Thunder Bay, Thrower (unassisted) 11:25 sh. 8. Thunder Bay, Sherman 2 (unassisted) 12:39 pp. 9. Minnesota, Sanchez (Sturko) 19:07 pp. Penalties: Emery MIN (tripping) 6:36, McKay TB (boarding) 10:35, Nagy MIN (cross checking) 12:13, Gillis TB (hooking) 16:33, Sturko MIN (holding) 16:42, Fortin TB (slashing) 18:13, Boon TB (slashing) 19:07.
GAME DATA – SOG – Minnesota 7-9-7-23, Thunder Bay 14-9-20-43; Power plays (goals-chances) – Minnesota (1-9), Thunder Bay (1-8); Goaltenders – Minnesota: Jackson Nelson, Thunder Bay: Brandon Bodnar; A: 244.
