THUNDER BAY -- Troy Sherman’s lucky the Fort William Gardens ice doesn’t melt beneath his feet.
That’s how hot the second-year Thunder Bay North Stars forward has been in recent days.
Sherman potted a pair of shorthanded goals on Saturday night to lead the Stars to an 8-3 win over the visiting last-place Minnesota Iron Rangers, giving him goals in three straight games and six in his last six appearances.
The 19-year-old’s confidence is at an all-time high.
“At the start of the year I was a little shaky and I think coach gave us a lot of confidence. And the guy’s I’m playing with, we’re just clicking still,” Sherman said.
Having some of his lesser-known players find their groove is a huge bonus as the North Stars (18-5-2), close in on the Christmas break in two weeks.
Instead of the opposition being able to focus in on star forwards like Nicholas Nigro, who scored twice on Saturday, and Brad Arabia, who had a goal and two assists, they’ll have to spread out their defensive game a little thinner.
“(Troy) has really been a big contributor for us in recent games, which is nice to see. He’s always had the ability. It’s just a matter of waiting for your chance and he got some opportunities with some more ice time these last few games,” North Stars coach Jeremy Adduono said.
“He’s really found a niche for himself as a solid penalty killer for us. He’s definitely one of the guys who have stepped up and made some big plays for us at the right time.
Sherman isn’t alone.
Forward Jake Robinson has also become a regular on the score sheet of late, with three goals in the weekend sweep of the Iron Rangers and five in his past seven games.
“It’s just working out,” Robinson said. “Sometimes bounces don’t go your way and sometimes they do. Right now things are clicking really good for our team and it’s going really good.”
Like Friday’s 9-3 win, the Iron Rangers made the Stars work for the two points.
After Thunder Bay jumped out to a quick 3-1 lead in the first on goals by Zack Glowatch, Arabia and Nigro, the Iron Rangers (4-17-1) stormed back in the second, Clayton Brown and Korey Muzzy beating Nathaniel Dupuis to even things up three goals apiece midway through the middle frame.
Once again the North Stars found a higher gear.
Robinson put the home side ahead for good at 13:29 and they’d continue to build on the lead in the third. Sherman took a pass along the boards and outmuscled an Iron Rangers defender, firing a quick shot that beat Minnesota goalie Sean Angle. He’d add his second shorthanded marker three minutes later, Nigro and Jesse Talakoski rounding out the scoring with goals five minutes apart.
Dupuis made 27 saves to earn the win, Angle stopping just 31 of 29 in taking the loss.
The North Stars, winners of four straight, will travel to Red Lake on Thursday and Friday for a pair of games against the third-place English River Miners.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Thunder Bay, Glowatch 3 (Gillis, Wesley-Chisel) 2:49. 2. Thunder Bay, Arabia 15 (Masters, Thrower) 14:06 pp. 3. Minnesota, Kinsman (Theisen, Olschewske) 14:40. 4. Thunder Bay, Nigro 19 (Arabia, Thrower) 19:47. Penalties: Thompson MIN (interference) 3:57, Leishman TB (tripping) 9:42, Kinsman MIN (tripping) 12:21, Thompson MIN (holding) 15:37.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 5. Minnesota, Brown 1 (Stensgard) 6:35 pp. 6. Minnesota, Muzzy 6 (Boyle) 11:12. 7. Thunder Bay, Robinson (unassisted) 13:29. Penalties: Nigro TB (cross checking) 5:07. Erwin MIN (slashing) 16:10.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 8. Thunder Bay, Sherman (Muir) 7:00 sh. 9. Thunder Bay, Sherman (unassisted) 10:05 sh. 10. Thunder Bay, Nigro 20 (Thrower, Arabia) 8:36 pp. 11. Thunder Bay, Talakoski (Balcombe, Corness) 13:22. Penalties: Robinson (head contact, misconduct) 6:05, Brown MIN (boarding) 7:17, Masters TB (cross checking) 9:18, Bessey MIN (elbowing) 14:18, Muzzy MIN (roughing), Leishman TB (cross checking) Wesley-Chisel TB (boarding) 17:58.
GAME DATA – SOG – Minnesota 5-13-12-30, Thunder Bay 14-9-16-39; Power plays (goals-chances) – Minnesota (1-5), Thunder Bay (2-5); Goaltenders – Sean Angle, Thunder Bay: Nathaniel Dupuis; A: 200.
