THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Fort Frances Lakers built up a five-goal lead after two periods, then had to withstand a comeback attempt by the Thunder Bay North Stars before eventually pulling out an 8-5 decision in Superior International Junior Hockey League action Wednesday at the Fort William Gardens.
With the loss, it confirmed that the North Stars would finish fourth in the overall SIJHL standings and will play the No. 5 seeded English River Miners in a best-of-five opening round match-up starting next week in Thunder Bay.
The Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on markers by Carter Chorney and Lucas DeBenedet.
Thunder Bay cut into the deficit 15 minutes into the session on an effort supplied by North Stars defenceman Tim Cavar.
The visitors tacked on two more early in the second thanks to DeBenedet and Bowen Alcock, which spelled the end of North Stars’ netminder Eric Mann’s night in favour of Nathaniel Dupuis.
Thunder Bay got one back off the stick of Kenny Turner at 7:17 only to see the Lakers strike three times in just over a three-minute span to seemingly take control of the contest.
Fort Frances affiliate David Pryde made it 5-2 at 12:55 and that was followed quickly by goals from Miles Nolan and Chorney’s second of the evening, which came on the power play.
The North Stars battled back in the third with a trio of successive man advantage markers from Ryan Walsh, Matthias Gardiman and Cavar to make it 7-5 with 2:43 remaining in regulation.
Thunder Bay had another power play opportunity late, but the Lakers iced it with a shorthanded, empty netter by A.J. Kapcheck to round out the scoring.
Cody Antonini dished out three assists for Fort Frances joining DeBenedet, Chorney and Kapcheck with three-point nights.
Pierce Dushenko made a season-high 44 saves to pick up the win for the Lakers.
Dupuis allowed three against on 22 attempts and suffered the loss in relief of Mann who stopped 20 of 24 in his time in net.