FORT FRANCES, Ont. – An Alex Maticic marker 9:25 into the third period proved to be the game-winner as the Thunder Bay North Stars held off a Fort Frances Lakers comeback bid in pulling out a 5-4 road victory Saturday night in Superior International Junior Hockey League action at Ice for Kids Arena.
Thunder Bay got off to a solid start by grabbing a 2-0 lead after one period of play on goals from Alexander Erwin and Turner Santin.
The North Stars then went up by three early in the middle session on rookie Keighan Gerrie’s 14th tally of the season.
Battling back, Fort Frances countered with goals in under a five-minute span to knot the affair at three.
Ian Jarvis struck shorthanded for the Lakers at 8:46 while teammate Jack Bernie added one at even strength 34 seconds later to make it 3-2.
The home side kept coming and put another one past Thunder Bay starter Brandon Bodnar during a man advantage that was provided by Jack Dunnell at 13:03.
Jake Behse put the North Stars back on top in the first shift of the third only to see Jarvis notch his second of the evening and 11th overall at 5:31 to tie things up once more.
However Maticic’s marker midway through the session ended up being the final one of the night as the visitors held on for the victory. He also had two assists for a three-point outing.
Bodnar made 37 saves to pick-up the win for Thunder Bay while Brett Akins faced 34 attempts in defeat for Fort Frances.
Photo credit: Clint Bruyere