Stars eliminated

The Thunder Bay North Stars didn’t go out with a whimper.

But when all was said and done, they did go out, and in an uncharacteristic four-game sweep, a first in team history.

Hometown hero Austin Adduono’s second of the night proved to be the difference at Fort William Gardens on Friday night, powering the Wisconsin Wilderness to a 4-3, semifinal-clinching triumph, the first time in North Stars history the SIJHL powerhouse has been swept in a seven-game series.

Adduono’s goal, his fifth of the postseason, completed a two-goal third period comeback by the Wilderness, who earlier in the frame had surrendered their only deficit of the series when Daniel Franks pushed the puck past goalie John McLean 1:32 into the final stanza.

“It feels pretty good,” said Adduono. “It feels pretty bad because it’s my home team (we beat), but both teams were trying hard. Everyone was going and it could have gone either way.”

The game-winner was a typical playoff goal, he added, a little luck and timely shooting.

“I went out there, I just got lucky, it went on my stick and tried to put it in,” Adduono said. “It’s whoever gets the bounces, that’s how it happens.”

Thunder Bay coach Todd Howarth, who took his team to seven straight Superior International Junior Hockey League finals before his streak came to a crashing halt on Friday on home ice, said while he’s disappointed the Stars won’t compete for the championship, he’s proud of the way his players fought against the top-seeded Wilderness.

“I think we had a pretty good series. I know we lost four straight, but the last three games were all one-goal games. It could have gone either way,” Howarth said. “Last night was a great game and tonight we had the lead for awhile in the third, but we gave it away.

“That’s kind of been the way our season’s gone, ever since the start. We started off great, then all of a sudden we had a lot of turmoil that went on with the ownership team. Things spiralled here and it’s been an up-and-down year all year. I commend the kids for working as hard as they did and I thought we played really good in this series. I don’t think we got enough bounces.”

Wisconsin got them and at the right time.

Chicago’s Matthew Mulqueen landed the Wilderness their first lead of the night on the power play, tipping home a Lucas Hendrickson shot from the point and the Wilderness held a 1-0 lead through 20 minutes.

Adduono doubled the lead less than two minutes into the second, but after going 109:49 without a goal, the North Stars Sam Dubinsky finally broke the futility streak, beating Wisconsin’s giant goalie John McLean, going high to find the back of the twine.

Ten minutes later he tied the score, and then 92 seconds into the third Daniel Franks gave the Stars their first lead of the series, slipping a rebound into the net.

Bryce Anderson tied it up six minutes later, then Adduono won it with eight minutes to go.

Thunder Bay just didn’t have a response at that point. Adding insult to injury, the Stars spent the final two minutes of the contest shorthanded, called for having too many men on the ice.

Star gazing: The North Stars are scheduled to host the Dudley Hewitt Cup next season ... The Wilderness played without star forward Wilson Housley, the son of former NHLer Phil Housley ... It marked the end of SIJHL careers for several Thunder Bay players, including Kevin Hamel, Tom Kane, Matt Valley, Riley Marsh, goaltender Guillaume Piche, Nathan Spina, captain Mitch Forbes, Dan Usiski and Rylan Henley.

First period
Scoring: 1. Wisconsin, Mulqueen 1 (Henderickson, Betzen) 6:44 pp. Penalties: K. Hamel TB (slashing) 5:45, Alexander TB (boarding major, game misconduct), Kline TB (hooking) 16:32, Betzen (misconduct) 16:32, Mulqueen (roughing), Neitenbach WIS (roughing) Howarth TB (roughing), Hogan TB (roughing) 19:10, Paine WIS (kneeing) 19:47.

Second period
Scoring: Wisconsin, Adduono 4 (unassisted) 1:57. 3. Thunder Bay, Dubinsky 6 (Hogan, Breukelman) 7:45 pp. 4. Thunder Bay, Dubinsky 7 (K. Hamel) 17:20. Penalties: Hendrickson WIS (hooking) 7:32, Salokari TB (interference) 12:14.

Third period
Scoring: 5. Thunder Bay, Franks (Marsh) 1:32. 6. Wisconsin, B.Anderson (Tessin) 6:22. 7. Wisconsin, Adduono 5 (B. Anderson, Paine) 11:52. Penalties: Mulqueen WIS (interference) 7:53, Valley TB (cross checking) 9:20, Erickson (boarding) 12:47, Bench minor TB (too many men) 18:02.

Game Data – SOG – Wisconsin 7-8-12-27, Thunder Bay 11-7-9-27; Power plays (goals-chances) – Wisconsin (1-3), Thunder Bay (1-6); Goaltenders – Wisconsin: John McLean, Thunder Bay: Guillaume Piche; A: 650 (estimated).