Brown Leads Stars

Cary Brown notched the hat trick to lead the Thunder Bay North Stars to a 6-3 win over the English River Miners Thursday night at the Fort William Gardens.  Kris Kellaway, Brett Wolframe, and Robert McLean also scored for the North Stars, who ran their second place record 32-9-5. The fourth place Miners dropped to 18-22-4.  Eric Mann got the win in goal for Thunder Bay stopping 20 shots.  The Stars and Miners play for the third straight time Saturday night in Ear Falls.  

North Stars Top Wilderness

Matthias Gardiman notched the hat trick and Zach Grzelewski scored a pair as the Thunder Bay North Stars downed Wisconsin 6-3 to complete a home and home series sweep of the Wilderness in Spooner.  The Stars beat the Wilderness 4-2 on Saturday night at Fort William Gardens.  Cary Brown also scored for the Stars, who improved their second place record to 31-9-5.  Eric Mann turned aside 29 shots for his 18th win of the season. The loss dropped the last place Wilderness to 4-39-0.  Thunder Bay plays host to the English River Miners this Thursday at the Gardens at 7:30.  

Currie Brier Bound

For the first time since 2003, a Thunder Bay rink is heading to the Canadian Men's Curling Championship. In an-all Thunder Bay final, the Jeff Currie foursome scored a 9-4 win over the Brian Adams Junior rink to capture the Northern Ontario title Sunday in Timmins.  Adams finished first in round robin play with a record of 6-1.  Currie now moves on to the Brier in Kamloops beginning March 1st.  The last Thunder Bay rink to advance to the Brier was Scott Henderson in 2003 in Halifax.

Stars Blank Iron Rangers

Eric Mann made 31 saves for the shutout as the Thunder Bay North Stars blanked the Minnesota Iron Rangers 3-0 Tuesday night in Hoyt Lakes. Ryan Walsh, Zach Grzelewski and Daniel Delpaggio scored the Stars, who held periods leads of 1-0 and 2-0.  The win improved Thunder Bay's record to 29-8-5 and the Stars moved seven points ahead of the third place Iron Rangers in the SIJHL standings.  The North Stars play host to the first place Fort Frances Lakers this Friday night at the Fort William Gardens at 7:30.

Stars Blank Miners

Matthias Gardiman notched the hat trick and added an assist to power the Thunder Bay North Stars to a 6-0 win over the English River Miners Tuesday night in Ear Falls.  Taylor Santorelli scored a pair of goals while Daniel Delpaggio had the other goal as the Stars ran their second place record to 28-7-5.  Thunder Bay held period leads of 3-0 and 5-0. Nathaniel Dupuis made 34 saves in registering the shutout.  The North Stars take on the first place Lakers in Fort Frances on Friday night.  

Kay Back With Cats

The Border Cats are proud to announce their first player signings of the 2014 Northwoods League season, including outfielder Cory Kay, who will return for his third year in Thunder Bay.  The native of Arlington Heights, IL., is currently in his junior season at Missouri State University.  Kay has belted six home runs in his Border Cats career and batted .257 in 59 games last year with eight doubles, two homers and 24 runs batted in.

Joining Cory on the 2014 club will be his younger brother Gunner Kay, who becomes the third sibling from the Kay family to suit up for the Border Cats. Shortstop Brett Kay played for Thunder Bay in 2011 and 2012 and is currently a member of the San Francisco Giants organization.  Gunner Kay is a 6'2", 180 pound righthander pitcher at Dallas Baptist University.  The freshman was named to the Chicago Daily Herald Cook County All-Area Team in his junior season in high school.  Kay posted a 7-1 record in 2012 with a 1.70 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched.  

The Cats have also signed infielder Adam Collins of Central Michigan University to the 2014 roster.  Collins played 11 games in the second half of the NWL season last summer and was an offensive force for the Cats. The redshirt freshman from Plainfield, IL., hit .381 with five doubles, three home runs and 11 runs batted in.

The Cats, with new field manager Johnny Hernandez, open the 2014 NWL season at home on Tuesday, May 27th, at 7:05pm against the St. Cloud Rox.

Grzelewski Leads Stars

Zach Grzelewski scored twice as the Thunder Bay North Stars wrapped up the SIJHL Showcase Tournament in Spooner, Wisconsin, with a 9-3 victory over the host Wilderness Thursday night.  Thunder Bay held period leads of 3-1 and 6-3.  Taylor Santorelli, Tyler Brower, Tim Cavar, Matthias Gardiman, Kenny Turner and Ryan Walsh also scored for the Stars, who ran their second place record to 27-6-5. Nathaniel Dupuis got the win in goal, stopping 25 shots.  The loss dropped the last place Wilderness to 3-35-0.  The North Stars return home to face the first place Fort Frances Lakers Saturday night at the Fort William Gardens at 7:30.