HOYT LAKES, Minn. – The Thunder Bay North Stars picked up a goal and an assist from Jacob Brown while Brock Aiken posted his Superior International Junior Hockey League-leading fourth shutout of the season in a 4-0 decision over the Dryden GM Ice Dogs in Day 2 play of the SIJHL Showcase Wednesday afternoon at Hoyt Lakes Arena.
Thunder Bay would strike first in the contest 2:23 in as Brown sent a quick cross-crease feed over to a waiting Keighan Gerrie, who promptly one-timed his chance high over Dryden starter Jordan Wilde from close range in what turned out be his co-league-best sixth game-winner.
The North Stars then went up by a pair during a man advantage opportunity as Brown darted down the left wing and finished off a nice effort for his eighth of the campaign.
A flurry of activity in the middle session saw Thunder Bay press on a power play to extend their cushion, but Wilde in GM Ice Dogs net stood tall making a number of brilliant stops.
It was the continued efforts of the Dryden goalkeeper, along with the North Stars’ Aiken that kept the second stanza without a tally.
The score stayed 2-0 until late in regulation when Thunder Bay tacked on a pair of power play markers off the sticks of defenceman Kyle Auger and forward Alex Erwin, who had a Thomas Brassard point shot bounce off him and in, to secure the victory.
While Aiken made 19 stops to earn himself the shutout, Wilde was solid in defeat for the GM Ice Dogs finishing with 29 saves along the way.
With the result, first place Thunder Bay has not allowed a goal against in their past 143 minutes and 45 seconds of game action, including back-to-back shutouts at the Showcase.