By Gary Moskalyk
Thunder Bay, ON – Colby Feist and Nikolas Campbell had a goal and two assists each, and the game’s first star Keenan Marks made 50 saves as the Thunder Bay North Stars won their first game of the season against Kam River 4-3. A standout crowd of 1,563 took in the action.
Thunder Bay is now a point behind Sioux Lookout for third place, while the Walleye’s celebratory Frescas were put on hold for a spell. Dryden ultimately lost their game against Red Lake giving Kam River first place overall in the 2022-23 SIJHL season.
The Walleye were 7-0-0 at game time against their rivals and scored the first two goals of the game on the powerplay.
Max Leduc notched his 15th and Kobe Braham got his 8th–his first of two–at 10:35.
Feist replied for Thunder Bay at 12:48 to make it 2-1 Walleye.
The Stars struck for three in the middle frame.
Campbell registered his 17th just 31 seconds in on a Stars’ powerplay. Nolan Desjardins’ snipe beat Vanska for his 10th, unassisted. Sam Skillestad somehow squeezed one past Vanska from his knees at 12:15 on a Stars’ powerplay for a two-goal lead.
Braham got his second at 18:56 of the second, on an assist from Logan Gallagher. Gallagher was in his second game back after being shelved back in late November by injury.
The third period was scoreless. Kam River outshot Thunder Bay 17-8 in the third. The Stars were able to keep Vanska in his net until the final 23 seconds.
Vanska turned aside 34 of 38 for only his 6th loss of the season (27-6-2). Marks upped his record to 14-6-1 with his stellar performance.
Kam River was 2-4 with the man advantage while Thunder Bay was 2-6.
Only 10 minor penalties were called.