THUNDER BAY – Four points this weekend is a must for the Thunder Bay North Stars.
It was coach Rob DeGagne’s message to his fourth-place team, looking to build a little momentum and maybe jump up a spot in the Superior International Junior Hockey League standings, as they took to the ice Friday night against a reeling Fort Frances Lakers squad, losers of 10 in a row heading into the contest.
The mission is half accomplished.
William Demkiw scored twice and line-mates Anthony Kuzenko and Dimitri Trahiotis had a goal and two assists apiece as the Stars downed the visiting Lakers 6-2 to capture the front-half of their two-game set that closes out the pre-Christmas portion of both teams’ schedules.
“We wanted the four points,” DeGagne said, his team now riding a three-game winning streak.
“We got two, so the message that I just delivered in there is tonight doesn’t mean anything if we don’t get the win tomorrow night. So be ready. We’re going to have them on a three games in three nights (stretch), so hopefully we can come out tomorrow night with some fire.”
Demkiw, one of three players on the Stars who suited up for the Vaughan Kings AAA midget team in 2019-20, has shown plenty of versatility upon his arrival in Thunder Bay, switching effortlessly from the blue-line to forward.
It’s been a huge plus, said DeGagne.
“He’s a defenceman by trade. We’ve got him up front because we don’t have a lot of guys up front. He’s been playing forward and centre for us all year. We’ve got some things happening here, so maybe he’ll be going back on defence after Christmas again,” DeGagne said.
Given the fact he’s clicked so well alongside Kuzenko and Trahiotis, that might be a decision DeGagne wants to hold off making for a spell.
The 18-year-old is up to eight goals on the season, all three shaking the rookie rust off. Kuzenko has four goals in his last three games, including a hat trick against Wisconsin, while Trahiotis has points in three straight.
“We all live with each other, we all get along well. We were just clicking today and we all felt good today,” Demkiw said.
“We all moved our feet today pretty well.”
It was all Thunder Bay in the first, at least on the score sheet, the two teams firing 13 shots at the opposing goaltender.
Kuzenko opened the scoring on a quick shot from the slot that wired it’s way past Fort Frances goaltender Ethan Hein at 4:41 of the first. The Stars doubled their lead seconds before the halfway point of the period, Edison Weeks potting his first of the season on a wrist shot from between the circles. Demkiw made it 3-0 with 4:13 to go in the period.
The Lakers best chance came 2:30 into the first, Sheldon Kelly lifting a shot at Conner Lemieux, only to have it graze the crossbar. Kelly also hit a post in the second.
Trahiotis made it 4-0 on a breakaway, picking the pocket of Lakers defenceman Manrico Pecchia en route to his sixth of the season.
The Lakers battled back with a pair in the second to cut the lead to 4-2, Mathieu Harrold and Dyson Germann, the latter tally coming on a 2-on-1 in the final minute of the period.
Zack Davis and Demkiw put the game out of reach in the third for Thunder Bay, who were out-shot 38-36 on the night.
The two teams meet again on Saturday, the puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Star gazing: Thunder Bay forward Pier-Luc Bellard (illness) has gone home for the holidays, but is expected back after Christmas.
Kam River 7, Wisconsin 2: Calvin Morrow scored twice, part of a five-goal second, as the Fighting Walleye won for the 11th straight time. Christian Veneruzzo had a goal and an assist for Kam River, whose shutout streak came to an end after 213 minutes when Brock Weimer beat Austin Madge at 7:06 of the first.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Thunder Bay, Kuzenko 9 (unassisted) 4:44. 2, Thunder Bay, Weeks 1 (Foreshew, Vesperini) 9:54. 3. Thunder Bay, Demkiw 7 (Kuzenko, Trahiotis) 15:47. Penalties: Wesley TB (hooking) 13:18, Demkiw TB (tripping) 18:36.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring:4. Thunder Bay, Trahiotis 6 (unassisted) 12:18. 5. Fort Frances, Harrold 1 (Bruyere, Germann) 12:50. 6. Fort Frances, Germann 3 (Harrold) 19:09. Penalties: None.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 7. Thunder Bay, Davis 2 (Vesperini) 0:29. 8. Thunder Bay, Demkiw 8 (Trahiotis, Kuzenko) 8:35. Penalties: Broughton TB (tripping) 1:39, Hein FF (roughing, served by Bruyere) 12:39, Broughton TB, Hahkala FF (roughing) 19:09.
GAME DATA – SOG – Fort Frances 13-16-9-38, Thunder Bay 13-12-11-36; Power plays (goals-chances) – Fort Frances (0-3), Thunder Bay (0-1) Goaltenders – Fort Frances: Ethan Hein, Thunder Bay: Conner Lemieux; A: 228.
