RED LAKE, Ont. – The Thunder Bay North Stars defence came out to play.
Led by goaltender Keenan Marks, who stopped all 33 shots he raced for the first regular season Superior International Junior Hockey League shutout of his two-season career, and a Tyler Jordan tally with 4:22 to go in the first, the Stars held on to down the host Red Lake Miners 1-0.
It was their second win in four tries this season.
Nathan Neitsch was almost as good in the Miners net, making 29 saves in taking the loss, not a deserving one by any account.
Red Lake (4-3-0) and Thunder Bay (2-4-0) will meet again on Saturday night.
Kam River 9, Wisconsin 3: Ryan Doucette and Jett Mintenko scored hat tricks and Jeremy Dunmore and Riley Borody each enjoyed three-point nights as the Fighting Walleye rolled to an easy home-ice win against the visiting Lumberjacks. Connor Corcoran, Ryan Kayser and Carson Shafor had the Wisconsin goals. Ashton Sadauskas made 16 saves to earn the win, while Rylan Freshwater and Jakob Barcelona shared goaltending duties for the Lumberjacks.
Dryden 7, Kenora 1: Carson Devine had a goal and two helpers and seven different Ice Dogs players lit the lamp behind Islanders goaltender Matthew Stephens in the home side’s lopsided triumph. Darian Sinclair had the lone goal for Kenora (1-4-0). The Ice Dogs remain on top of the SIJHL standings at 7-1-0.
Sioux Lookout 5, Fort Frances 0: The Bombers, who have yet to lose in regulation, improved to 6-0-1, riding Jack Osmond’s 31-save shutout performance to victory. Ty Lone had a goal and two assists for Sioux Lookout (6-0-1)
