THUNDER BAY – Sports – The Thunder Bay North Stars are taking on the Minnesota Wilderness in exciting Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) action at the Fort William Gardens.

Thunder Bay North Stars 

Both teams are looking good in the warm-ups. Tonight, the Thunder Bay North Stars are facing the league leading Minnesota Wilderness. The N-Stars will need to maintain their composure and focus. The Wilderness have 22 points and the second place North Stars have 16 points.

There is a growing crowd at tonight’s game:

First Period Action

The North Stars are starting #34 Jayme Brattengeier in net.

The North Stars are going with crisp passing in the early moments of the game. The Wilderness are playing controlled hockey with tight forechecking. Both teams are making quick line changes in the opening minutes, and the pace of play is fast.

The North Stars hemmed the Wilderness into their zone for some solid opportunities, but were held off the score sheet.

With 14:45 left in the period Cary Brown got off the best scoring chance so far in the game with a slap shot that was stopped by JoJo Jeanetta the Wilderness netminder.

Marshall Fox at 5:53 was tagged with cross-checking putting the visitors on power-play. The North Stars killed off the infraction allowing only one shot on net.

The North Stars get a power-play as #16 Danny Bartkowiak gets hit with slashing at 9:13.

The penalty ended and the North Stars traded places in the box with #15 Kolton Kahoot for boarding. Ten seconds into the power play the Wilderness went up on a shot into the twine. Goal was scored by Dylan Haskin assisted by Jordan Shockley.

The Wilderness put on a strong push for the puck in front of the North Stars net. That led to some more friction between the two teams. A pair of minors was handed out.

With 6:39 left in the first period, the Wilderness scored making the score 2-0. #11 Mike Dietrich put the puck behind the North Stars goaltender.

The North Stars are continuing the penalty trouble as #2 Marshall Fox was tagged at 13:57 for roughing.

The Wilderness put on a great demonstration of puck control for penalty, but were held off the scoresheet by Jayme Brattengeier who has been better than the 2-0 scoreboard shows.

At 17:03 the Wilderness were called for Hooking. The North Stars on the power play get a chance to pull within one goal.

Michael MacKinnon got in on a break-a-way and almost scored. It was the outstretched Brattengeir who kept the North Stars from falling behind.

Shots on net in the first: North Stars 3 and Minnesota Wilderness 10.

Second Period Action

The second period is underway with the North Stars getting into penalty trouble again. Dylan Mascarin was gated with a double dose, a two minute unsportsmanlike conduct and a ten minute misconduct. Time of the call, 17:36.

Jordan Shockley of the Wilderness was called for slashing and the teams played into the penalty without any scoring.

That was followed quickly by a minor for delay of game at 3:43 as Benjamin Michaud was hit with two minutes for delay of game. That led to a long discussion with the refs and the Minnesota coach. The North Stars get a good rest for the last 15 seconds of the power play. the game has tightened up with shots on net still favouring the Wilderness but only by one shot. 12 shots for the Wilderness and 11 for the North Stars.

#3 of the Wilderness has been hit with a two minute penalty for hooking. The Wilderness almost scored with only a few seconds into the penalty on a break.

The Wilderness capitalized on a penalty to make the score 3-0. #5 Brandon Zurick at 9:15 put the Wilderness up. Kolton Kahoot was in the box for goaltender interference. The goal was assisted by Jordan Shockley.

The North Stars were called for a delayed penalty, and it took almost 40 seconds of play before the whistle blew. #26 Paul Zysko was called for elbowing at 10:57.

#3 Jake Maxson of the Wilderness, was called for holding at 14:19 giving the North Stars a shot to get back into the game. The North Stars are looking sharp in the first minute of the power play. A pass into the slot was missed that could have brought the Stars onto the scoreboard.

The closing minutes of the period have the Gardens echoing with the sounds of body-checks as both teams are putting the body to their opponents.

With 1:44 to go, the Wilderness had two fantastic scoring chances, first on the break-away and then on a quick turn-around on the rebound. However the hot hand of Jayme Brattengeier is keeping the North Stars in the hunt.

With a minute left, the North Stars are pressing. #14 Dylan Mascarin got a shot that got the crowd into the mix.

After two periods, shots on net are 15 for the North Stars and 17 for the Wilderness.

Third Period Action

The North Stars are down by a trio of goals with twenty minutes to go. The North Stars are fighting injuries, and replacement affiliated players coming in to keep the roster full. It is making things hard for the team.

The Wilderness have, in the first two periods of tonight’s game demonstrated why they are leading the league. But the North Stars are not giving up.

North Stars Captain Paul Zysko ragged the puck into the Wilderness end and got off a great scoring attempt.

To climb back into the game just got harder. The Wilderness slide the puck under Jayme Brattengeier to go up by a four goal margin. Danny Bartkowiak scored at the 5:32 mark of the period.

The Wilderness likely put the game on ice with 4:30 left. The goal was scored by #15 Jake Larsen, unassisted, who brought the puck in like it was on a string tied to his stick, and put the Wilderness on top 5-0.

The North Stars got a power play trying to even the score but the Wilderness killed the penalty off.

With 37.8 seconds, the North Stars got on the score sheet ending the Wilderness bid for a shutout. North Stars goal was scored by #6 Jordan Davidson. Assists by and Kyler Ackewance

Shots on goal North Stars 23, Minnesota 27.

The next North Stars home stand starts November 1 when the Duluth Clydesdales hit the Fort William Garden’s ice for a Friday/Saturday night series.

NetNewsledger’s coverage team tonight includes Dakota Matthews, Quinn Spyrka and Nathan Ogden