Jayme Brattengeier and the Thunder Bay North Stars finished the regular season on a roll.
They picked up where they left off Saturday night at Fort William Gardens to start the best-of-three opening round Superior International Junior Hockey League play-in series.
Brattengeier a veteran of four SIJHL seasons, kicked aside all 34 Minnesota Iron Rangers shots he faced as the Stars scored a 1-0 win in the series opener. Thunder Bay’ Mathias Gardiman, who stole the puck behind the Minnesota net midway through the first and fired a backhander past Iron Ranger goalie Chase Hollander, had the lone goal of the contest.
The Nipgon native promised it was just the start of things to come.
“We’re definitely going to surprise most teams in playoffs this year,” said Brattengeier, who recorded just one shutout in 31 appearances during the regular season, a 38-save performance a week ago that helped the Stars leapfrog the Iron Rangers into fourth place, securing home-ice advantage in the all-important play-in series.
“Everyone is coming together and everyone is putting their body in front of pucks and giving it all they’ve got.”
The North Stars puck-stopper said it’s just been clicking for him down the stretch.
“I just felt really good tonight, and all the boys were just pumped up before the game,” he said.
Coach Jordan Smith would like to see a slightly better effort on Monday, when the series switches to Hoyt Lakes Arena, where the Iron Rangers will face a do-or-die match, hoping to extend their playoff lives.
“I thought we did enough to win,” Smith said. “That wasn’t our best game by any means, but at this stage in the season you’re not going to critique any wins and I’m happy with the outcome.”
Smith, a defenceman in his playing days, said Brattengeier is delivering just what he’d hoped for from a goalie with this much experience.
“He’s been solid the last couple of weeks. He’s a 20-year-old goalie. He’s playing the way he should be playing and these kids want it. It showed tonight.”
Not that Brattengeier was tested too severely, at least not until the final few minutes of regulation play.
It was Minnesota’s Hollander who was forced to make the big saves, especially in the third. He stopped Jerid Adamson’s backhander early in the final stanza, then turned aside a Gardiman wrist shot a few minutes later.
Gus Karkinen had the best scoring opportunity for the Iron Rangers, but Brattengeier slammed the door shut with a huge blocker save.
Iron Rangers coach and GM Chris Walby pulled Hollander with 1:20 to go, but neither side was able to take advantage of the situation.
The winner of the series will battle the top-ranked Minnesota Wilderness in one of two SIJHL semifinals. The Dryden Ice Dogs and Fort Frances Lakers will tangle in the other.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Thunder Bay, Gardiman 1 (Hynnes) 9:46. Penalties: Vaillant TB (delay of game) 1:10.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: None. Penalties: Gregory MIN (slashing) 4:49, Hynnes TB (tripping) 14:29.
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: None. Penalties: Routheau MIN, Kellaway TB (slashing) 14:07.
GAME DATA – SOG – Minnesota 11-13-10-34, Thunder Bay 9-5-8-22; Power plays (goals-chances) – Minnesota (0-2), Thunder Bay (0-1); Goaltenders – Minnesota: Chase Hollander, Thunder Bay: Jayme Brattengeier; A: 150 (estimated).
