THUNDER BAY - The SIJHL regular season schedule was announced on Thursday, and the defensing champions are close to hitting the ice again.
The Thunder Bay North Stars will defend their SIJHL title in 2019-20, and will start off the year by trying to spoil the debut of the SIJHL's fresh face.
The Wisconsin Lumberjacks are playing in their first season, and will host the North Stars in Spooner, Wis. on Septmber 20.
They will take the spot of the league punching bag Minnesota Iron Rangers, who were granted a one-year leave.
The North Stars will travel back home after four road games to raise the championship banner at Fort William gardens against the Thief River Falls Norskies on October 4.
Then they will resume their rivalry with the Red Lake Miners on October 12 at home. The North Stars finished off the Miners in five games in the SIJHL finals last season.
Last year's 49-5-1 regular season record kept the North Stars perched at #2 in the Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings for most of the season. After winning their sixth Bill Salonen Cup in team history, the North Stars had a dissapointing trip to the Dudley-Hewitt Cup.
They posted a record of 0-3 on the provinical stage, and were outscored by 11 goals in total.
Head coach Rob DeGagne told tbnewswatch in May that the team expects to qualify for the Dudley-Hewitt Cup again in 2019-20.
