Stars rally in third to take opener over Duluth

Dylan Mascarin played hero for the Thunder Bay North Stars Friday night.

The first-year-forward, a graduate of the Thunder Bay Kings organization, potted the tying and winning goals  in the third period, powering the Stars to a come-from-behind 5-4 win over Duluth to take the opening game of their Superior International Junior Hockey League quarterfinal series.

Mascarin knotted the score at 2:03, just 43 seconds after teammate Devin Fullum had cut the Clydesdales lead to 4-3.
Duluth, on first-period goals from Reed Armstrong, Cody Stettin and Ben Michaud, owned a 3-1 lead 14:20 into the contest, but couldn't hold back the third-place Stars.

Quinn Rempel scored twice in the first to ensure Thunder Bay trailed by just a goal after 20 minutes. Duluth's Ryan Tront had the only goal of the second to double the Clydesdales lead.

The two teams will hook up again Saturday night at Fort William Gardens for Game 2 of the best-of-seven series.

Elsewhere Friday night, the Wisconsin Wilderness got the jump in their first of two, two-game 1-2 showdowns, scoring twice in the first and two more in the second to hang on for a 4-3 win over the Fort Frances Lakers.

Andrew Anderson had a pair for Wisconsin, with singles going to Patrick Hurly and Austin Bevilacqua. SIJHL most valuable player Byron Katapaytuk netted two goals and added an assist for the Lakers, who also got a goal from Jon Carlson.

Game 2 is slated for Saturday night. A second series will be held next weekend in Fort Frances, with the overall winner earning the right to choose their semifinal opponent.

Dryden and Sioux Lookout will kick off their best-of-seven quarterfinal Saturday at Dryden.