THUNDER BAY, Ont. – The Superior International Junior Hockey League-leading Thunder Bay North Stars picked up a pair of goals from Jacob Anttonen while Ben Erwin scored once and set-up two others to help them soar past the Red Lake Miners 6-2 Friday at the Fort William Gardens.
It was the visiting Miners that got on the board first when Spencer Milne wired one top shelf over the shoulder of Thunder Bay starter Brock Aiken from the right face off dot seven and a half minutes into the contest.
The North Stars came back to tie it at 13:37 as Erwin darted down the right side and cut around a defender before tucking the puck past the outstretched pad of English River netminder Zach Willms.
Thunder Bay then went in front as recently acquired defenceman Thomas Brassard backhanded one in from the slot in his season debut with the club.
They then struck shorthanded in the final minute of the frame thanks to some great passing between Ryan Mignault and Keigan Gerrie which left Mignault left with a tap in into the open net at 19:36 for the eventual game-winner.
Red Lake came out quickly to narrow the deficit in the middle stanza as Bryce Young bagged his league-leading 19th just 21 seconds into the frame.
It stayed that way until the third when the North Stars put it away with a trio of tallies to secure the win as Anttonen scored twice sandwiched around a Kyle Auger power play marker.
Brendan Gillis chipped in with two assists to help Thunder Bay offensively.
The North Stars held a big edge in shots on goal in the contest by a 46-24 count with Aiken picking up the win while Willms suffered the loss.
The same two teams meet again Saturday at 7:30 p.m. back at the Gardens.
Photo credit: Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com