SUPERIOR INTERNATIONAL JUNIOR HOCKEY LEAGUE
SIJHL MEDIA UPDATE
Release Date: Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016
Photo credit: Gary Moskalyk, The Chronicle-Journal
North Stars end Lakers win streak at 5
THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Thunder Bay North Stars got a pair of goals and an assist from Nicholas Nigro to help them defeat the visiting Fort Frances Lakers 5-3 Wednesday evening in a Superior International Junior Hockey League match-up at the Fort William Gardens.
Nigro was quick to get the North Stars on the board in this one scoring 17 seconds after the opening face-off.
Having won five in a row entering the contest, Fort Frances came right back with the equalizer moments later on a Jared Virtanen effort.
Thunder Bay would regain the lead midway through the first as defenceman Ryan Walsh snapped one through the legs of Lakers’ starter Dakota Delbridge.
A Troy Sherman unassisted effort at 6:36 made it 3-1 for the home side before Brad Arabia’s 13th of the season five minutes later put the North Stars up 4-1 and also spelled the end of Delbridge’s night in favour of back-up Brandon Bodnar the rest of the way.
The goaltending change boosted the visitors as Virtanen notched his second of the night seventh overall a mere 74 seconds later.
Fort Frances then pulled to within one during the first shift of the third period as Austin Petrie registered his first SIJHL tally in his league debut.
The score stayed 4-3 Thunder Bay until Nigro iced it with an empty netter as the North Stars’ No. 19 connected at 19:19 to round out the scoring.
Joe Newhouse dished out two assists for the home side while Dylan Kooner and Bernie Jack did likewise for Fort Frances in defeat.
Nathaniel Dupuis made 30 saves to record the win for Thunder Bay.
Delbridge suffered the loss for the Lakers allowing four on 24 attempts while Bodnar stopped all 10 shots he faced in relief.