By Gary Moskalyk
Thunder Bay, ON – Kam River snapped Thunder Bay’s 15-game point streak in convincing fashion. Jett Mintenko scored three, the Walleye struck for unanswered second period goals, and Ashton Sadauskas won the battle of the 10-win goalies as the Oliver-Paipoonge squad defeated the North Stars 7-3 before 874 fans at the Gardens.
The win creates a three-way tie for first. Kam River, Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay all have 30 points each. The Fighting Walleye have three games in hand.
Edison Weeks opened the scoring on a rebound for Thunder Bay at 6:03 of the first. Kam got the next six. Mintenko backhanded a rebound in for his first of the game at 8:35 of the initial frame to tie it, and Jeremy Dunmore finished off a tic-tac-toe for his 11th on a Kam River powerplay to put the visitors ahead 2-1 through one.
Sam Sargent scored his first goal of the year on a cross-ice pass from Easton Debray, who registered his first assist of the year, to give the Walleye a 3-1 lead 8:45 into the second. Nickolas Fagnilli on a power play, Mintenko and Dunmore unassisted at 16:24 scored in a 3:34 span to put the game away, chasing Keenan Marks from the Thunder Bay net with the score 6-1.
Marks stopped 13 of 19. Ethan Barron came on in relief.
Cohen Tangedahl and Beau Helmeczi scored for Thunder Bay in the third. Mintenko got his hatty at 11:19 of the third on a one-timer for his 11th of the year.
Dunmore had two goals and a helper, Carter Nailen had three assists, and Carter Poddubny assisted on a pair for Kam River. Sadauskas made 33 saves for his 11th win. Barron stopped seven of eight for Thunder Bay in relief of Marks.
Thunder Bay outshot Kam River 36-37. The Walleye took four minor penalties to Thunder Bay’s five. The Walleye were 2-5 with the man advantage, while killing off three North Stars penalties.