THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League announced Tuesday that it’s defending Bill Salonen Cup champion Thunder Bay North Stars will meet the College of St. Scholastica Saints men’s hockey team in an exhibition game on Sunday, October 27, at 3 p.m., at the Fort William Gardens.
Based in Duluth, Minn., the Saints are a NCAA Division III program that competes out of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association.
Since the SIJHL’s inception back in 2001, St. Scholastica has recruited a multitude of players to attend the school and skate for the Saints program.
Last season alone, four SIJHL alumni were on the club’s roster while another five, who played in the league last season, are among their latest class of recruits.
“This is a tremendous honour and privilege for the North Stars to take on a long-time NCAA program on home ice,” offered SIJHL commissioner Bryan Graham.
“Seeing our players have additional opportunities to showcase their talents, in pursuit of potentially furthering their post-secondary education while competing against collegiate-level talent is something the league and all of our member clubs strive for,” added Graham.
“We look forward to welcoming the Saints, their head coach Tim Madsen, and thank the entire St. Scholastica program for this opportunity.”
WORKMAN TO ST. OLAF: Other SIJHL-related NCAA news has seen former Thief River Falls Norskies head coach Cole Workman being named to a similar role at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.
The Oles are a NCAA D-III program that plays out of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Workman spent last season on the coaching staff at Bemidji State University of the WCHA.
Prior to that, he spent two years as the head coach and director of player personnel for Thief River Falls in the SIJHL during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 campaigns.
In the Norskies’ inaugural season, Workman guided the team to a 31-20-2-3 record and a spot in the playoffs.
The following year, Thief River Falls led the league in wins with a 41-11-2 record.
Overall under his watch behind the bench, the Norskies went 71-32-4-5, playing .675 hockey under Workman, who was a two-time finalist for the SIJHL’s Coach of the Year award.
MAKE-UP GAME: The make-up date for the league regular season contest between the Dryden GM Ice Dogs and Red Lake Miners, that was postponed back on Sept. 20, due to a power outage caused by high winds and a severe storm, has been finalized.
This game will now be held on Saturday, February 8 and features a 7 p.m. CT start at Cochenour Arena.
