THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Thunder Bay North Stars scored early and often Tuesday evening as they rolled to an 11-0 romp over the Minnesota Iron Rangers in Game 2 of their Superior International Junior Hockey League first round series at the Fort William Gardens.
With the result, the North Stars now lead this best-of-five match-up 2-0 heading to Game 3 Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Hoyt Lakes Arena.
Thunder Bay got going with their first of five-man advantage markers on the night when Turner Santin redirected a Logan Mihalcin point shot at 5:56 into the contest.
Up a skater again moments later, Alex Maticic added his first of the playoffs to make it 2-0.
The home side kept coming and tacked on two more before the first period was complete on tallies from Brad Thrower at even strength and Keighan Gerrie on the power play to go up by four.
Opting to replace starter Tyler Thompson in favour of back-up Jaeger Reed to begin the second did not help the visitors’ cause as the North Stars added three more to extend their cushion to seven after 40 minutes.
Gerrie’s second of the night and fourth of playoffs made it 5-0 at 12:03 before Brendan Gillis and Kyle Auger finished off the frame.
Thunder Bay then completed the rout with a pair of goals from Ryan Mignaut and singles from Auger and Carson Smith in the third.
Thrower also dished out three assists for a four-point night.
Brandon Bodnar made 21 saves to record the shutout for the North Stars.
Thompson and Reed were peppered with a combined 55 shots against in the loss.
SIJHL Playoffs
Series A
Quarter-final series
No. 3 Thunder Bay North Stars vs. No. 6 Minnesota Iron Rangers
Thunder Bay leads best-of-five series 2-0
Game 1: Thunder Bay 6 Minnesota 4
Game 2: Thunder Bay 11 Minnesota 0
Game 3: Thursday, March 22 @ Minnesota 7:30 p.m. CT (Hoyt Lakes)
Game 4*: Sunday, March 25 @ Minnesota 7:30 p.m. CT (Hoyt Lakes)
Game 5*: Tuesday, March 27 @ Thunder Bay 7:30 p.m. ET (Gardens)
*- if necessary
Photo credit: Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com