FORT FRANCES, Ont. – Ryan Mignault and Brendan Gillis both picked up four points as part of a Thunder Bay North Stars offensive barrage Friday as they went on to thump the Fort Frances Lakers 9-0 in Superior International Junior Hockey League play at Ice for Kids Arena.
Thunder Bay started strong grabbing a 2-0 lead after one period of play on Justin Muir’s first of the season eight minutes in before Alex Maticic struck shorthanded at 13:56 to put the visitors up by two.
The North Stars then blew it open in the middle stanza by scoring five times to carry a big lead into the final frame.
After Bradley Thrower and Gillis connected 17 seconds apart in the session, Thunder Bay continued the onslaught with markers from power play goals from Joe Newhouse and Mignault before Zach Fortin added one at even strength at 17:36.
They then finished off the one-sided decision on tallies from Dillon Ward and Avery Siau to wrap up the romp.
Former Lakers’ goaltender Brandon Bodnar stopped all 26 shots he faced in his return to Fort Frances to post his first shutout of the season.
Rob Ivy started for the Lakers and was saddled with the loss allowing five against on 15 attempts while Michael Binczyk handled nine of 13 in relief.
Photo credit: Clint Bruyere