By Tanner Schafer
Rice Lake, WI – The Thunder Bay North Stars were able to pull away from a scrappy but overmatched Wisconsin Lumberjacks team to take a 3-0 series lead on Thursday night in Rice Lake.
The North Stars were able to control the game throughout, outshooting the Lumberjacks in every period and by a total of 59-26. Despite the pressure it was actually Wisconsin who opened the scoring courtesy of Koen Burkholder 7 minutes into the game. He was assisted by Jack Carruthers and Kaden Postal. With less than 5 minutes to play in the 1st Thunder Bay would answer back with a goal scored by Tyler Jordan his 3rd of the playoffs.
The game went into the 1st intermission tied at 1 and it would stay that way for a majority of the 2nd period. It took 15 minutes before Tisten Bear found the back of the net to give Thunder Bay the lead. 30 seconds later Tyler Jordan once again scored, this time on the powerplay to give his side a 3-1 lead. Refusing to go away quietly the Lumberjacks would answer back with just over 2 minutes remaining. Will McDonnel beat the North Stars goaltender making the score 3-2 heading into the final break.
Both teams battled in the 3rd period but it was only Thunder Bay who found success as halfway through the frame Tyler Jordan secured his hat trick with another power play goal giving his team a 4-2 lead. Edison Weeks would add an insurance marker a few minutes later and the North Stars would finish the game with a 5-2 scoreline.
Riley Burnett had a great game in goal making 54 saves for Wisconsin but picking up the loss. Ben Laurette got the win thanks to 24 saves of 36 shots. The teams will face off again Friday night, giving the North Stars a chance to bring out the brooms and sweep the Lumberjacks from the playoffs.
1st Star – Tyler Jordan, 3 goals
2nd Star – Edison Weeks, 1 goal and 2 assists
3rd Star – Koen Burkholder, 1 goal and 1 assist