Need a cure for a two-game home-ice losing streak? Just call Matt Kaarela.
The veteran Thunder Bay North Stars forward delivered that and more Wednesday night at Fort William Gardens, scoring four times and adding a pair of helpers to help the Stars rediscover the win column with a convincing 8-2 triumph over the Duluth Clydesdales (1-24-1).
Kaarela scored once in the first, twice in the second and added one more in the third for good measure, marking the return of coach Todd Howarth behind the bench, after he missed a weekend sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Iron Rangers suffering from the flu.
“You can’t get games like that without the help of teammates and stuff,” said Kaarela, who leads the 15-13-0 Stars with 24 goals, also tops in the Superior International Junior Hockey League -- despite missing six games due to injury.
“The guys seemed to be working hard for the majority of the game and we stuck to the system for the most part and it worked out for us.”
Howarth also spread the credit around.
“I give credit to the guys he’s playing with. And I thought all of our energy came from the (Kris) Kellaway, (Trevor) Hynnes and (Isaac) Howarth line. They were a really good line tonight. They were banging and working hard, doing all the little things. They did some nice work.”
The younger Howarth, the coach’s son, had a breakaway shorthanded marker nine seconds into the second period that beat Duluth goalie Ryan Wickiser, and had an assist on Kaarela’s first of the night. Wade Garbett, playing alongside Kaarela, had a goal and two assists.
This time, after taking the early 1-0 lead, the North Stars were able to push forward and build on it, unlike their weekend set that saw them jump out in front, only to watch their opponent vault past them to victory.
“When you lose a few games in a row it’s just hard on everybody and it gets the mentality down in the room. You’ve just got to be ready to go and guys have to come out ready to win and we’ve just got to back on our feet,” Kaarela said.
Howarth is making a difference with his systems, which are new to most of the players on the team.
“It’s just a matter of guys wanting to do them and working at doing them – doing their best to do them,” Kaarela said.
“It just comes down to everybody being on the same page, no matter what your system is.”
Tim Cavar and Marshall Fox had the North Stars other goals, while Jayme Brattengeier made 15 saves to earn the win.
Thunder Bay takes on the Minnesota Iron Rangers Friday on the road, returning Saturday to the Gardens for a third-place battle against the Fort Frances Lakers.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Thunder Bay, Garbett (Kaarela, Martyn) 12:52. 2. Thunder Bay, Kaarela (Howarth) 18:01. Penalties: Hynnes TB (cross checking) 8:02, Jorenby DUL (hooking) 14:06, Garbett TB (high sticking) 14:13, Garbett TB (tripping) 18:55.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 3. Thunder Bay, Howarth (Cavar) 0:09 sh. 4. Thunder Bay, Kaarela (Vaillant, Garbett) 1:13. 5. Duluth, Reffert (Ringstad) 1:39. 6. Thunder Bay, Kaarela (Vaillant) 9:08. 7. Thunder Bay, Ma. Fox (unassisted) 12:17 pp. 8. Duluth, Mershon (Reffert, Opack) 17:18. Penalties: Williams DUL (tripping) 2:04, Mi. Fox TB (cross checking) 9:50, Merritt DUL (slashing) 10:29, Williams DUL (cross checking) 12:06, Mi. Fox TB (holding) 14:25, Monteiro DUL (high sticking) 18:47.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 9. Thunder Bay, Kaarela (Garbett, Adimson) 3:45. 10. Thunder Bay, Cavar (Ma. Fox, Kaarela) 4:10 pp. Penalties: Ringstad DUL (holding) 3:57, Mi. Fox TB (slashing) 5:58, Ma. Fox TB (holding) 10:20, Opack DUL (hooking) 14:38, Williams DUL (high sticking) 16:23, Snedden DUL (check to head, misconduct), Kellaway TB (unsportsmanlike conduct) 19:52.
GAME DATA – SOG – Duluth 4-6-7-17, Thunder Bay 13-13-7-33; Power plays (goals-chances) – Duluth (0-4), Thunder Bay (2-3); Goaltenders – Duluth: Ryan Wickiser, Thunder Bay: Jayme Brattengeier; A: 80 (estimated).
