FORT FRANCES, Ont. – The Thunder Bay North Stars dug an early hole Saturday night against the Fort Frances Lakers, but clawed their way out to maintain their hold of top spot in the Superior International Junior Hockey League standings.
The Stars (4-0-1) spotted the Lakers (3-1-0) a 2-0 lead in the opening 12:27 of the first, Kendyn Faragher and Chase Robideau connecting against Thunder Bay goaltender Brock Aiken.
But Robert Tyska got the visitors back on track with 6:02 to play in the opening period and Thunder Bay trailed 2-1 after 20 minutes.
It was all North Stars in the second.
Thunder Bay scored three times in the middle stanza to take control of the contest and take a 4-2 lead into the final frame.
The red-hot Keighan Gerrie connected on his seventh in five games just 21 seconds into the second to tie the game 2-2, with rookie Michael Vecchio netting his first SIJHL goal at 3:55 to put the Stars in front for good.
Sophomore Joel Willan added his second of the season in the final minute of the period.
Fort Frances’ Nick Lucas and veteran North Stars forward Ryan Mignault, with his sixth of the young campaign, traded third-period goals as Thunder Bay went on to win 5-3, handing the previously undefeated Lakers their first loss of the season.
The North Stars host the Minnesota Iron Rangers on Friday night in their 2018-19 home opener at Fort William Gardens.
