THUNDER BAY – Nicholas Nigro hasn’t done it all by himself this year.
But he’s been one of the main reasons the Thunder Bay North Stars are off to their hottest Superior International Junior Hockey League start in years.
Nigro scored twice and added a pair of assists on Saturday night as the Stars doubled up the expansion Thief River Falls Norskies 6-3 at Fort William Gardens.
He had some much-needed help injected into the lineup.
Captain Brett Wolframe, missing in action since the season opener, returned from a lower-body injury and scored his second of the season late in the second period, the goal stemming a mini comeback bid by the Norskies.
The visitors had spotted the North Stars (8-2-1) a 4-0 lead, but battled back with two quick goals 2:08 apart in the final five minutes of the middle stanza.
The game also marked the return of veteran blue-liner Aaron Wesley-Chisel, who spent the past two seasons with Thunder Bay, but started the season with the Soo Thunderbirds, where he played 10 games before being dealt back to the Stars.
Wesley-Chisel, who collected 34 points a season ago, added an assist in his debut.
“Brett’s a big piece of this team. He’s the captain for a reason. He brings it every game, as you could see tonight,” said NIgro, who tops the SIJHL with 23 points, five more than Dryden’s Eric Stout and English River’s Sidney Gladue.
“He’s one of those guys that just have a lot of energy. He helps the team a lot. And I can’t say anything bad about (Wesley-Chisel) either. We missed him when he left and now that he’s back, he’s a big piece on our blue-line.”
That’s a compliment coming from Nigro, an early MVP favourite who tallied twice on the power play in the first period, a Kris Hamlin marker sandwiched in between.
Brad Arabia struck early in the second to make it 4-0 North Stars, but Thief River’s Connor Smith notched his first of two on the night – and fifth of the season – beating newcomer Jordan Elliott, making his Thunder Bay debut, with a wrist shot to cut the host team’s lead to three.
Blair Lindholm’s first of the year made it 4-2 at 15:56 of the second.
Jesse Talakoski restored the three-goal North Stars lead with just over five minutes to go, Smith wrapping up the scoring on the power play with 2:44 to play and goaltender Ryan Buttazzoni on the bench for an extra attacker.
Thunder Bay coach Jeremy Adduono was happy with the start against a team that left home at 4 a.m.
“It was a long travel day for them and I thought we did a good job at exposing that, getting out to a quick lead. Obviously we were the beneficiary of a couple of calls against them and we capitalized on a few,” Adduono said.
“Overall, as far as our game goes, I thought it was a so-so effort. I thought we were a little undisciplined with a couple of penalties, a little undisciplined with the structure in our own zone and even on a couple of the goals. We had chances to clear the puck and didn’t get it out.”
Thunder Bay out-shot Thief River Falls (2-4-1) 44-27. The two teams play a matinee affair on Sunday at 2 p.m.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Thunder Bay, Nigro 12 (Wesley-Chisel, Walsh) 3:46 pp. 2. Thunder Bay, Hamlin 3 (Arabia, Nigro) 7:12. 3. Thunder Bay, Nigro 13 (Newhouse) 15:12 pp. Penalties: Soderberg TRF (high sticking) 2:05, Grytdahal TRF (checking from behind, game misconduct) 10:54, Robinson TB (slashing) 12:09.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 4. Thunder Bay, Arabia 7 (Johnston, Robinson) 5:40. 5. Thief River Falls, Smith 5 (Bowey) 13:48 pp. 6. Thief River Falls, Lindholm 1 (Johnson) 15:56. 7. Thunder Bay, Wolframe 2 (Nigro) 17:40. Penalties: Robinson TB (goaltender interference) 6:49. Nigro TB (cross checking) 7:49, Sherman TB (unsportsmanlike conduct) 10:21, Smith TRF (tripping) 11:30, Nigro TB (boarding) 13:19, Thrower TB (misconduct) 14:37.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 8. Thunder Bay, Talakoski 4 (Minoletti) 14:38. 9. Thief River Falls, Smith 6 (Jackson, Huot) 17:16 pp. Penalties: Parrott TB (tripping) 8:04, Hamlin TB (spearing double minor) 15:06, Thrower TB (tripping) 17:45.
GAME DATA – SOG – Thief River Falls 6-13-8-27, Thunder Bay 19-15-10-44; Power plays (goals-chances) – Thief River Falls (2-7), Thunder Bay (2-3); Goaltenders – Thief River Falls: Ryan Buttazzoni, Thunder Bay: Jordan Elliott; A: 250 (estimated).
