Staff
The Fort Frances Lakers were thumped 9-0 by the Thunder Bay North Stars in SIJHL action Friday night at the Ice For Kids Arena here to extend their losing skid to four-straight games.
Ryan Mignault and Brendan Gillis both picked up four points each to lead the offensive barrage.
The North Stars jumped out to an early 2-0 as Justin Muir tallied first of the season eight minutes into the game before Alex Maticic struck shorthanded at 13:56.
The visitors blew it open in the second period with five more goals.
After Bradley Thrower and Gillis connected just 17 seconds apart, the North Stars added power-play goals by Joe Newhouse and Mignault.
Zach Fortin ended the outburst with an even-strength goal at 17:36.
Dillon Ward and Avery Siau added third-period goals to cap the scoring.
Former Lakers’ goalie Brandon Bodnar stopped all 26 shots he faced in his return to Fort Frances to post his first shutout of the season.
Rob Ivy started for the Lakers and took the loss, allowing five goals on just 15 shots.
Michael Binczyk handled nine of 13 in relief.
Fort Frances then was scheduled to play Saturday night in Dryden against the GM Ice Dogs but that game was postponed due to the poor travel/highway conditions.
A make-up date has yet to be announced.
The Lakers (5-8-1-1), currently sitting in fourth place with 12 points, next hit the road tomorrow night to face the English River Miners (5-9-0-1), who are in fifth place just one point behind (11).
Fort Frances then hosts the last-place Minnesota Iron Rangers (1-10-0-2) here this Friday night.
The Thief River Falls Norskies (14-0-0-0) remain unbeaten to lead the pack with 28 points, followed by the Ice Dogs (10-1-2-1) at 23.
The North Stars (8-5-2-0), meanwhile, have won four-straight games to surge into third place with 18 points.
Editor’s note: The above article was compiled based on information posted on the SIJHL website.
