THUNDER BAY – The Thunder Bay North Stars offence was almost as quiet as Fort William Gardens was on Wednesday afternoon.
The North Stars managed just a pair of goals and lost 3-2 in overtime to the visiting Red Lake Miners, Gabe Tanton scoring the winner on the power play, 2:34 into the extra frame, handing Thunder Bay its second straight defeat.
The game was played in a sensory-friendly environment, with muted announcements, no music, consistent lighting and no video replay or colourful graphics, an attempt to make the game more welcoming for those with sensitivity to loud noise and bright lights.
It was a big win, said Tanton, the Miners winning for just the third time in 10 outings.
“We’re going through a bit of a tough stretch right now, so (it’s big) to get a win,” Tanton said. “I didn’t really care who scored it, just excited to win, honestly.”
The third time was the charm for Red Lake, who took their first lead late in the first on a Kayne Pawlick tally with 2:15 to go in the period, and a second time on Nathan Dann’s 19th goal of 2024-25, putting the puck past North Stars goaltender Liam Letters just 54 seconds into the middle stanza.
The winner came with Thunder Bay’s Chance Loke serving a hooking penalty, the call coming 2:04 into overtime.
Playing 4-on-3 hockey, Tanton said they spend a lot of time practicing their power play, and it paid off.
Red Lake had failed to score in four earlier man advantage situations.
“That’s our play on our 5-on-3, 4-on-3, to work it around and find that shot up top,” Tanton said. “Fortunately, I saw a spot and hit it.”
It was a bit of a different atmosphere, he acknowledged, but it was pretty cool to play with no music and other amenities that usually surround a Superior International Junior Hockey League game.
“For me, personally, I try to tune it out and get in the zone,” Tanton said. “I think it’s a really cool thing that they did today. I was proud to be a part of it.”
Both Thunder Bay goals came off the stick of newcomer Jarred Feist, a Kelowna, B.C. native whose brother Colby is a former North Stars forward.
Playing in his third game, Feist tied the game on the power play three minutes into the second, then tied it 2-2 eight minutes into the third, the goal once again coming with the North Stars up a man.
“I was stressing going two games without a point or without a goal,” said Feist, who split time between the Alberta Junior Hockey League’s Grand Prairie Storm and Drumheller Dragons this season, scoring five times in 24 appearances.
“I just really wanted to get it done tonight, and got it done. But it’s always hard when you’re killing (a penalty) in OT.”
Thunder Bay travels to Dryden and Fort Frances on the weekend. Red Lake is back at home for a pair against the Kam River Fighting Walleye on Friday and Saturday night.
FIRST PERIOD
Scoring: 1. Red Lake, Pawlick (Heuser) 17:45. Penalties: Marshall TBN (interference) 3:48, Heuser RLM (boarding) 5:52, Feist TBN (tripping) 11:19.
SECOND PERIOD
Scoring: 2. Thunder Bay, Feist 1 (Loke, Remenda) 2:56 pp. Penalties: Peters RLM (tripping) 1:50. Gelderland RLM (cross checking) 4:39, Roswell RLM (hooking) 11:13, Feist TBN (cross checking) 18:27
THIRD PERIOD
Scoring: 3. Red Lake, Dann 19 (Tenney, Carlyle) 0:54. 4. Thunder Bay, Feist 2 (Francis, Jordan) 8:18 pp. Penalties: McColl RLM (high sticking) 6:20, Larrett TBN (holding) 6:32, Dann RLM (tripping) 7:18, Morrison RLM (holding) 18:04.
OVERTIME
Scoring: 5. Red Lake, Tanton 6 (Dann, Szpak) 2:34. Penalties: Loke TBN (hooking) 2:04,
GAME DATA – SOG – Red Lake 15-4-3-1-23, Thunder Bay 5-10-12-1-28; Power plays (goals-chances) – Red Lake (1-5), Thunder Bay (2-7); Goaltenders – Red Lake: Nick Peters, Thunder Bay: Liam Letters; A: 468.
