Winners of nine of their past ten games, the Thunder Bay North Stars (20-17-0-2) are heading south to Hoyt Lakes, Minn. for this week’s SIJHL Showcase. The team will play twice against the top two teams in the Superior International Junior Hockey League.
Head Coach Jeremy Adduono, who is 13-7-0-0 since taking over the bench on November 20, has the North Stars solidly positioned in third place of the SIJHL standings. With 17 games remaining on the schedule, staying in the top three may prove important come post-season play.
Last season Thunder Bay finished fourth, just six point back of second place and were forced to play a first round best-of five series against the fifth place finisher. After a three-game sweep of English River Miners the North Stars next faced the top seeded (and well rested) Fort Frances Lakers, who eliminated Thunder Bay in four straight games.
Thunder Bay will open the showcase with a matchup against league-leading Fort Frances (28-6-0-1) on Tuesday afternoon in Hoyt Lakes. Despite trailing the Lakers in the standings the North Stars have had much success against the defending Bill Salonen Cup champs, winning four of the seven meetings so far.
North Stars game schedule
Tuesday, January 26 vs Fort Frances Lakers, 3:00 PM (CT) – Hoyt Lakes
Wednesday, January 27 vs Dryden Ice Dogs, 4:00 PM (CT) – Virginia
Team stats leaders
Player (birthyear) – Games Played – Goals – Assists
- Nicholas Nigro (1996) – 34 GP: 22 G, 23 A
- Kenny Turner (1995) – 37 GP: 10 G, 27 A
- Kris Hamlin (1997) – 28 GP: 13 G, 22 A
- Brad Arabia (1996) – 39 GP: 14 G, 13 A
- Joe Newhouse (1997) – 35 GP: 7 G, 20 A
- Riley Corbin (1995) – 16-11-0-1; 2.81 GAA; .924 save%
- complete team stats at http://www.thunderbaynorthstars.com/skater-stats/?team_id=16