North Stars lose heartbreaker

Brock McDonald scored the winner with five seconds to go in regulation and the Neepawa Natives escaped with a come-from-behind 2-1 win Friday night over the visiting Thunder Bay North Stars.

Kyle Breukelman scored the lone goal for the Stars, who were making their preseason debut. Breukelman’s power play goal opened the scoring at 1:11 of the second. Richard Olson tied it for Neepawa at the 15:32 mark of the middle stanza.

Mikell Bilodeau took the loss in net for Thunder Bay, despite making 51 saves. Alex Henry stopped 26 shots to capture the victory.

In other Superior International Junior Hockey League exhibition play on Friday, the host Fort Frances Lakers weren’t too kind to their guests from Sioux Lookout, crushing the Flyers 10-0. Jon Carlson and Jordan Larson had two goals apiece for the victorious Lakers, with singles going to Mike Riffel, Adam Wensley, Dane Morin, Connor Hady, Alex Burress and Henry Gutierrez.

The North Stars Manitoba Junior Hockey League visit continues on Saturday afternoon when they take on Portage La Prairie in the lone SIJHL preseason contest of the day.