Thunder Bay Completes 3 Game Sweep of Sioux Lookout

By Gary Moskalyk

Thunder Bay, ON – EJ Paddington scored two goals and assisted on another, powering the Thunder Bay North Stars to a 4-2 Sunday matinee win over the Sioux Lookout Bombers for a weekend sweep. The victory is the Stars’ 7th in a row and puts them within four points of first place.

Paddington is tied with Owen Riffel of Sioux Lookout atop the SIJHL leaderboard with 21 points.  

Keenan Marks stopped 29 of 31 for his 5th win against two losses. Marks lowered his GAA to 2.31 and gained a tick or two in SV% with a .928 after the game.

Easton Mikus had a goal and assist and Edison Weeks dished out a pair of assists as the line took over as the top point producing trio in the SIJHL, supplanting Connor Burke/Blake Burke/Riffel combo.

Paddington converted a rebound chance at 1:40 of the first on assists from Drew Caddo and Mikus. Blake Burke tied it on a Bomber powerplay when he stashed a rebound off an Alex Lucas shot.

The Stars raised their lead to 3-1 after two periods. Defenceman Max Buffone moved in from his point position and sent a low shot through the pads of Jack Osmond at 12:08. Paddington doubled the spread with a one-timer from the slot at 16:29 on a Stars powerplay.

Jonah Smith notched a shorthanded unassisted marker at 44 seconds of the third to narrow the lead. Smith turned it over at his own blue-line and raced uncontested for his 7th of the year. Mikus clanged one off the bar, the puck rose about a foot, and then banked off Osmond’s back and in at 7:36 as the Stars regained a two-goal edge. It was Mikus’ 12th of the year.

Osmond was yanked with 43 seconds left but there were no miracle comebacks left in the tank for the Bombers, who left Thunder Bay with three losses after being undefeated through 10 games.

Osmond made 44 stops and saw his record drop to 5-2-0. Marks upped his record to 5-2-0. 

The Stars were 2-8 on the PP while Sioux Lookout was 1-6. Caddo improved to eight assists on the campaign with two more in this game. 

Thunder Bay took 22 of 38 penalty minutes assessed. A total of 344 fans attended.