Winning continues

Lonny Bohonos was a winner in his Superior International Junior Hockey League coaching debut.

Marc Nother made 34 saves and Brandon Warmington notched a pair of goals, leading the Thunder Bay North Stars to a 4-0 win over the powerful Wisconsin Wilderness on Wednesday night, stretching their winning streak to four games, equalling a season high.

"It's a big win for us. We wanted to get the win for Lonny in his first game as a junior coach here. It's huge for our team, a big confidence boost to win against Wisconsin and it looks like it's a turning point for everyone," Nother said.

"That's probably our most complete game from the forwards all the way back to the D. So I think we're all happy with the win."

Warmington, who's lit the lamp five times in nine games since joining the Stars from the Markham Waxers, said the adversity surrounding the SIJHL club, as tough as it's been, may have united the players and willed them to the win.

"We had a great team effort out there. It seemed like we all came together," Warmington said. "We weren't really expecting a coaching change, but it seems like it's been working for us. Everything seems to be working out there, we just got a 4-0 win."

Bohonos, though not completely satisfied with the way his new troops played, nonetheless was happy to start out a winner.

"It's good for our hockey club. Obviously Wisconsin is a very good hockey team. I'm obviously happy, but there are a lot of things we need to work on. Our PK did a very good job and our goaltending was outstanding," Bohonos said.

"But I felt there were too many undisciplined penalties and we have to cut those down. We got lucky. They've got a really good power play and we can't give teams that many chances because eventually they're going to capitalize."

The Stars were a perfect 10-for-10 while shorthanded and caught Wisconsin goalie Tanner Millron, who leads the league with a sparkling 1.46 goals against average, on an off night.

Michael Orosey, whose been hot of late, struck first, stepping across the blueline and ripping a slap shot past Millron at the 5:40 mark of the opening period.

Less than two minutes later Kyle Lapenskie doubled the North Stars lead in similar fashion, ringing it off the post and into the net for a 2-0 lead they'd take into the break.

Warmington jumped on a loose puck in front of Millron late in the second, pounding it home for the only goal of the period, and iced the contest at 3:34 of the third, stealing the puck from Wisconsin defender Christian Belobaba and waltzed in alone on Millron to score the final goal of the game.

"I had a couple of goals tonight, but I had good line-mates who got me the puck. It's great to play with good players," Warmington said.

The Stars and Wilderness play the second of three in a row on Friday at the Gardens, then hit the road for a dozen straight to wrap up regular-season play.

First period
Scoring: 1. Thunder Bay, Orosey 7 (Ma. Fox, Osborne) 5:40. 2. Thunder Bay, Lapenskie 18 (Mi. Fox, Mascarin) 6:56.  Penalties: Lapenskie TB (interference) 10:00, Blacksmith TB (high sticking) 11:48, Ma. Fox (delay of game ) 17:49.

Second period
Scoring: 3. Thunder Bay, Warmington 4 (Rempel, Wolframe) 17:11. Penalties: Dietrich WIS (hooking) 2:45, Osborne TB (high sticking) 18:47, Dubinksy TB (hooking) 19:58.

Third period
Scoring: 4. Thunder Bay, Warmington 5 (Rempel) 3:34. Penalties: Blacksmith TB (tripping) 4:37, Tilley TB (holding) 10:17, Mi. Fox TB (high sticking double minor) 11:18, Osborne TB, Hendrickson WIS (unsportsmanlike conduct) 12:11.

Game Data – SOG – Wisconsin 10-14-10-34, Thunder Bay 8-12-7-27; Power plays (goals-chances) – Wisconsin (0-5), Thunder Bay (0-1); Goaltenders – Wisconsin: Tanner Millron, Thunder Bay: Marc Nother; A: 336.